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BusinessReutersGoogle created hurdles to protect smartphone foothold -small search firm
The founder of Branch Metrics, which developed a method of searching within smartphone apps, told a U.S. antitrust trial on Wednesday how his company struggled to integrate with devices because of steps Google took to block them. The testimony came during the third week of a more than two-month trial in which the U.S. Justice Department is seeking to show that Alphabet's Google abused its monopoly of search and some search advertising. Google has said that its business practices were legal.
BusinessReutersApple is ordered to face Apple Pay antitrust lawsuit
Apple was ordered on Wednesday to face a private antitrust lawsuit by payment card issuers accusing the company of thwarting competition for its Apple Pay mobile wallet. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said the plaintiffs could try to prove that Apple violated the federal Sherman antitrust law by enforcing a 100% monopoly over the domestic market for tap-and-pay wallets for iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. The Oakland, California-based judge also dismissed a "tying" claim, which accused Apple of requiring purchasers of iOS devices to buy Apple Pay or forego purchases of competing wallets.
NewsAFP NewsIn a divided Ethiopia, the Orthodox mark Meskel celebration
Orthodox Ethiopians on Wednesday marked the beginning of Meskel, one of the holiest celebrations in the Christian tradition followed in this devout nation riven by ethnic and political violence.Most Christians are Orthodox, although the share of Protestants has grown significantly recently.
NewsReutersEpic Games asks US Supreme Court to review Apple antitrust case
Epic Games on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the antitrust case it brought against Apple, hoping to reverse lower court rulings that have found the iPhone maker has not violated antitrust laws. "Fortnite" owner Epic has waged a multi-year legal battle against Apple alleging its App Store, where developers pay commissions of up to 30% on in-app purchases, violates U.S. antitrust laws. In 2021, a trial court ruled Apple's App Store does not break antitrust laws.
NewsAFP NewsFrench ambassador to Niger returns to Paris after weeks of tension
France's ambassador to Niger landed in Paris on Wednesday, after weeks of tensions with the post-coup regime in the West African country who demanded his expulsion.Macron also announced in his Sunday TV interview that French troops would withdraw from Niger in "the months and weeks to come" with a full pullout "by the end of the year" -- another demand of the Niger regime.
NewsAFP NewsCanada PM offers 'unreserved' apology for invite to ex-Nazi
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday offered an "unreserved" apology in parliament after the legislature publicly celebrated a Ukrainian World War II veteran who fought alongside the Nazis.Trudeau said earlier Wednesday that the mistake "deeply embarrassed Parliament, and Canada," and he was apologizing in front of all Canadians and the Jewish people around the world.
NewsAFP NewsUS to let Israelis enter visa-free, citing less discrimination
The United States said Wednesday it will start letting Israelis visit without visas, granting a key wish of its ally after concluding it had reduced discrimination against Arab Americans -- an assessment rejected by some lawmakers and activists.The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed a lawsuit to prevent Israel's entry into the visa waiver program, a move it said "would be an endorsement of discrimination against Palestinian and Arab Americans."
NewsAFP NewsUS soldier Travis King released by North Korea
US soldier Travis King has been freed by North Korea and is heading home, nearly three months after he ran across the border from the South, the White House said Wednesday.White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that "US officials have secured the return of Private Travis King" from North Korea.
NewsAFP NewsUK approves new North Sea oil production, angering green groups
Britain on Wednesday authorised oil and gas production in its largest undeveloped field to bolster its energy security, one week after the government diluted its net zero targets, triggering further condemnation by environmentalists.The UK government maintains it must beef up energy security via continued production of fossil fuels following the invasion of Ukraine by key producer Russia, even if it means pushing back its target on net zero carbon emissions.
BusinessReutersFactbox-Amazon antitrust lawsuit latest in US efforts to rein in big firms' clout
More recently, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulators have targeted Big Tech including Alphabet's Google and Meta Platforms' Facebook. Standard Oil (1911)- Regulators alleged John Rockefeller's Standard Oil held the monopoly in the oil business by using aggressive pricing to eliminate competition. Standard Oil was broken up into 34 companies.
PoliticsHuffPostKevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell Facing Off In Government Shutdown Showdown
Funding for federal operations is set to lapse if Congress fails to act.
BusinessReutersQualcomm defeats consumers' antitrust claims over chip supply contracts
Qualcomm on Tuesday defeated a consumer lawsuit in California federal court alleging the chipmaker's contracts with device manufacturers had artificially boosted the cost of mobile phones in violation of U.S. antitrust law. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled for Qualcomm on the merits of the case in a 15-page order, marking the latest setback for the plaintiffs in a long-running dispute that challenged the company's patent licensing and exclusive-dealing chip agreements with Apple and other manufacturers. Qualcomm prevailed in 2020 against the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's parallel lawsuit that alleged the same conduct.
NewsAFP NewsYouth bring climate case to Europe rights court
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Wednesday began hearing a case brought by six Portuguese youths against 32 nations for not doing enough to stop global warming, the latest bid to secure climate justice through the courts.The Grand Chamber must first rule on the admissibility of the Portuguese case, since the youths filed directly to the ECHR without first seeking recourse in domestic courts.
BusinessReutersExclusive-Meta executive leading AI chip efforts to leave position - sources
(Reuters) -A Meta Platforms executive overseeing the company's efforts to develop its own chips for artificial intelligence work is leaving her position at the end of the month, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Alexis Black Bjorlin, vice president of infrastructure at Meta and a veteran of chip companies Broadcom and Intel, headed a team charged with designing a custom chip to handle a range of AI work, a key part of company's efforts to overhaul its sprawling network of data centers for an era dominated by chatbots and image generators. Yee Jiun Song, Meta's vice president of engineering, will take over her role, and the company will continue its efforts to develop its own AI hardware, one of the sources said.
NewsAFP NewsNearly half of Karabakh population flees Azerbaijan's control
Armenia said Wednesday that nearly half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population has fled the enclave since Azerbaijan crushed the rebels' decades-long fight for an independent state last week.The fireball erupted as refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh were stocking up on fuel for the long drive along the lone mountain road leading to Armenia.
PoliticsHuffPostGOP Debate Stage Down To Just 1 Candidate Who Wouldn't Back A Convicted Trump
The second GOP primary debate is set for Wednesday with fewer participants and still without the front-runner, the coup-attempting Trump.
BusinessAFP NewsStocks struggle to make headway against inflation, rate fears
European stocks closed lower Wednesday and Wall Street slipped back from early gains on expectations that inflation will keep US interest rates high, which also drove investors to seek safety in the dollar.A report Wednesday showing a larger-than-expected rise in US manufactured goods orders for August added to the cautious tone, since they give the Federal Reserve less reason to lower rates anytime soon.
ScienceAFP NewsMysterious antimatter observed falling down for first time
For the first time, scientists have observed antimatter particles -- the mysterious twins of the visible matter all around us -- falling downwards due to the effect of gravity, Europe's physics lab CERN announced on Wednesday.In more than a dozen experiments, the CERN scientists varied the strength of the magnets, observing gravity's effect on antimatter at different rates.
NewsAFP NewsSerbia holds 'day of mourning' after clashes in Kosovo
Serbia on Wednesday observed an official day of mourning as the country cancelled sporting events and lowered flags to half mast, with a minister calling the Serb gunmen killed in Kosovo over the weekend "martyrs".Several newspapers also hailed the gunmen, with headlines calling them "heroes" and saying the country was collectively in "tears".
NewsAFP NewsSpain's Feijoo loses parliamentary vote to become PM
Alberto Nunez-Feijoo saw his bid to become Spain's next prime minister rejected by parliament on Wednesday, with the right-wing opposition leader lacking the support to pass a key vote. Despite winning the most votes in July's inconclusive election, Feijoo on Wednesday was only able to muster the support of 172 lawmakers from his right-wing Popular Party (PP), the far-right Vox and two other tiny factions.
NewsAFP NewsIndonesia bans goods transactions on social media platforms
Indonesia has banned goods transactions on social media platforms in a new regulation, its trade minister said Wednesday, as Jakarta aims to rein in direct sales on major platforms it says are harming millions of small businesses.Experts said the transaction ban would hit the coffers of social media platforms such as TikTok, which takes a commission from every sale.
BusinessReutersFormer Microsoft product chief joins Amazon as head of devices business
Panay, who was with Microsoft for more than 19 years and helmed the creation of the Surface line of computers, will take up the new role in October, Amazon said on Wednesday. He will replace Amazon veteran Dave Limp, who announced plans to step down later this year, joining other longtime executives at the division who left the company last year. Though relatively small within Amazon's sprawling empire, the device unit has been symbolically important as a gadget testing ground and Alexa's public face through voice-assistant devices.
PoliticsHuffPost'The Joe Manchin Of Foreign Policy': Menendez Case Could Mean Sea Change For Democrats On National Security
On issues ranging from Iran and Taiwan to Latin America, the New Jersey senator wielded immense influence while being out of step with most others in his party.
BusinessReutersU.S. sues eBay over sale of harmful products
NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. government on Wednesday sued eBay, accusing the online platform of violating the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws by allowing the sale of several harmful products, including devices that defeat automobile pollution controls. EBay could face billions of dollars in penalties, including up to $5,580 for each Clean Air Act violation, according to the government's complaint filed in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York. The Department of Justice said eBay illegally allowed the sale of at least 343,011 aftermarket "defeat" devices that help vehicles generate more power and get better fuel economy by evading emissions controls.
NewsHuffPostParoled Sex Offender Wanted In Killing Of Baltimore Tech CEO
Jason Dean Billingsley, who's being sought in the death of Pava LaPere, "will kill and he will rape," the acting police commissioner warned.
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