CIA review finds flaws in 2016 Russia report but upholds finding Putin backed Trump
A CIA review has identified procedural flaws in a 2016 assessment that Russia sought to help Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency, but it did not chal...
Brussels has fined Apple and Meta over €700 million combined, launching its first crackdown under the Digital Markets Act aimed at curbing big tech’s power and boosting competition in the digital economy.
The European Union has taken its first major enforcement step under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), levying significant fines against American tech giants Apple and Meta. The move underscores the bloc’s growing resolve to regulate dominant digital platforms and restore balance to the online economy.
Apple received a €500 million ($570 million) fine for what regulators called anti-competitive practices—specifically, restricting app developers from directing users to more affordable purchasing options outside of the App Store. According to EU authorities, this undermined consumer choice and stifled fair competition.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was fined €200 million. The European Commission found its “pay or consent” model—where users must either accept targeted ads or pay a fee to avoid them—violated the DMA’s provisions on user autonomy and freedom of choice.
The Digital Markets Act, which came into force earlier this year, targets large digital platforms designated as “gatekeepers,” requiring them to allow fair access for competitors and greater transparency for users. The enforcement actions mark a key moment in the EU’s campaign to curtail the dominance of global tech firms.
The penalties, originally anticipated in March, were delayed due to rising trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump. Nonetheless, EU regulators have pressed forward, aiming to set a precedent for strict digital oversight.
Apple sharply criticised the decision, arguing that it had invested substantial resources to comply with the new legislation and calling the fine “unfair.” The company claimed it had implemented dozens of changes and spent “hundreds of thousands of engineering hours.”
Meta also objected, with Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan accusing the EU of applying unequal standards. He suggested that the regulation was designed to “handicap successful American businesses” while giving competitors in Europe and China more leeway.
Industry observers say the fines may fuel further friction between Brussels and Silicon Valley, as governments worldwide continue to debate how best to regulate big tech’s outsized influence on digital markets.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A multimodal cargo airport in Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone (FEZ) is scheduled for commissioning in Q1 2027, the deputy head of the FEZ governing body Ismail Manafov announced.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Oil prices plunged more than 12% last week, ending a three-week rally, with experts expecting them to stabilize around $60 if the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Arab Fund have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize a strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable infrastructure in shared priority regions.
Tesla’s new car registrations plunged sharply in June, dropping 64.4% in Sweden and 61.6% in Denmark compared to last year, highlighting growing challenges for the U.S. electric vehicle maker in these Nordic markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment