Google faces new antitrust trial after ruling declaring search engine a monopoly
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — One month after a judge declared Google’s search engine an illegal monopoly, the tech giant faces another antitrust lawsuit that threatens to break up the company. The Justice Department and a coalition of states contend Google built and maintains a monopoly over the technology that matches advertisers to online publishers. The government contends Google’s dominance over the software on both the buy side and the sell side of the transaction enables it to keep up to 36 cents on the dollar when it brokers sales between publishers and advertisers. Google says the government’s case is based on an outdated perception of the internet, when desktop computers dominated the landscape. The trial begins Monday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone will catapult the tech trendsetter into the age of AI
Apple’s ubiquitous iPhone is about to break new ground with a shift into artificial intelligence that will do everything from smartening up its frequently dim-witted assistant Siri to creating customized emojis on the fly. The new era will dawn Monday with the unveiling of the hotly anticipated iPhone 16 in a Cupertino, California, auditorium named after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who pulled out the first iPhone in 2007 and waved it like a magic wand while predicting it would reshape society. Apple’s AI package will run mostly on the device instead of remote data centers. That distinction requires a special processor that is expected to drive huge demand for the iPhone 16.
Global markets mixed after Wall Street had its worst week in nearly 18 months
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks fell while European markets started the week higher after another rout hit Wall Street as a highly anticipated U.S. job market update added to worries about the economy. The Nikkei 225 index was hovering around its lowest level in almost a month after Japan’s gross domestic product grew by an annualized 2.9% in the second quarter. The revised data was below expectations. The S&P 500 fell 1.7% Friday to close its worst week since March 2023. Broadcom, Nvidia and other formerly high-flying tech companies drove the market lower and dragged the Nasdaq composite down a market-leading 2.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1%.
Japan’s economy is growing, but political uncertainty is among the risks
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy grew at an annual rate of 2.9%, slower than the earlier report for 3.1% growth, in the April-June period, boosted by better wages and spending. That shows clear risks remain, including U.S. economic growth, which greatly affects export-reliant Japan. Political uncertainty in Japan is another risk as the ruling party picks a new leader. The revised data from the Cabinet Office on Monday still showed Japan’s economy rebounded in the fiscal first quarter.
Black Caucus issues new guidelines for DEI policies and urges firms to help reduce racial wealth gap
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Black Caucus has issued new guidelines for corporations to use in adopting their diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The report released Monday by the Democratic caucus outlines how companies can adopt effective and inclusive DEI policies to promote broad prosperity. In 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, major corporations pledged more than $50 billion to combat racial injustice and promised to reform their own policies. But some companies have backed away from such commitments as conservative lawmakers and activists have lashed out. In an interview with The Associated Press, CBC Chair Steven Horsford condemned “far right actors who are attempting to bully corporate America” and urged companies to step up their efforts.
A blockbuster Chinese video game sparks debate on sexism in the nation’s gaming industry
WASHINGTON (AP) — A blockbuster new Chinese video game is smashing records. “Black Myth: Wukong” drew millions of players within hours of its launch in August and is being hailed as a milestone in China’s gaming industry. It drew praise and pride for its compelling plot and beautiful graphics but also set off a heated debate over sexism in Chinese gaming. United Kingdom-based organization Women in Games found that, despite making up almost half of the gamers globally, women made up only about 22% of the gaming industry workforce in 2020. Some gamers are using the release of “Black Myth” as an opportunity to shine a light on sexism in the industry.
DirecTV files complaint against Disney with FCC as impasse enters 2nd week
The impasse between DirecTV and Disney over a new carriage agreement has become more heated as it entered its second week. DirecTV filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission on Saturday night accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith. Disney channels, including ESPN and ABC-owned stations in nine markets, have been off DirecTV since the evening of Sept. 1. That meant DirecTV customers were blacked out from viewing most college football games and the final week of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, including the women’s and men’s finals. DirecTV has 11.3 million subscribers, according to Leichtman Research Group, making it the nation’s third-largest pay TV provider.
Waffle House CEO Walt Ehmer has died at age 58
ATLANTA (AP) — Walt Ehmer, the president and CEO of Waffle House and a member of the board of trustees for the Atlanta Police Foundation, has died at age 58. The police foundation announced his death Sunday. The board of directors for Waffle House said Ehmer died after a long illness. According to his alma mater, Georgia Tech, Ehmer joined Waffle House in 1992 and quickly rose to senior leadership. He became president of the restaurant chain in 2002 and later added the titles of CEO and chairman. The Waffle House chain of around-the-clock diners opened in 1955 and now has more than 1,900 locations in 25 states.
Boeing says it has a deal to avoid a strike by more than 30,000 machinists
Boeing has a tentative agreement with its largest union on a new contract for factory workers that could avoid a threatened strike. The company and the International Association of Machinists said Sunday the agreement will raise pay 25% over four years. That’s less than the union had demanded. But the company agreed with a union proposal to build its next plane in Washington state. The president of the machinists’ union outpost at Boeing says the bargaining committee is recommending that members ratify the proposed contract. The union has scheduled a two-part election for Thursday, with workers voting whether to accept the contract, and whether to authorize a strike if they reject the offer.
Starbucks turns to a celebrity CEO as it struggles to define itself for an era of mobile orders
Fifty-three years after its founding, Starbucks is unhappy with what it’s become – and trying to figure out how to meet customers’ changing needs without losing its coffeehouse roots. Analysts say the chain, with nearly 40,000 stores worldwide, has become too ubiquitous for drinkers seeking high-end coffee and too expensive for many customers looking for a quick caffeine fix. And its thousands of customizations are adding to wait times at stores. Starbucks is turning to a celebrated CEO to fix things. Brian Niccol, who previously led Taco Bell and Chipotle, becomes Starbucks’ chairman and CEO on Monday.
