In a significant strategic shift, Google has revised its ethical guidelines concerning the application of artificial intelligence, notably easing restrictions on its use in potentially harmful sectors, including weaponry. Historically, the tech giant has maintained a firm stance against leveraging AI for military and surveillance purposes. However, citing technological advancements, Google has now relaxed these principles. In a recent blog post defending this shift, Google emphasized the necessity...

The American manufacturer of clean trucks, Nikola, is contemplating a request for deferment of payment as it grapples with significant financial difficulties. Known for producing trucks that operate on electricity or hydrogen, the company is exploring options to seek protection against creditors. This development, reported by several American media outlets citing insider sources, suggests that Nikola’s management is currently engaged in discussions with legal and financial advisors. However,...

American motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson has been grappling with declining global sales, as highlighted in its fourth-quarter report for the previous year. The company attributes the downturn primarily to unfavorable market conditions and rising interest rates, which have collectively made consumer financing more challenging. In the latest quarter, Harley-Davidson reported sales of just 14,000 motorcycles, resulting in a staggering 35% drop in revenue, down to $688 million. Throughout 2024,...

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, faced a challenging day on Wall Street as its stock tumbled over 7%. Despite posting fourth-quarter revenues of $96.5 billion, marking a 12% increase compared to the same period last year, this growth rate is the slowest since 2023. The primary disappointment came from Alphabet’s Cloud division, which reported a 30.1% revenue increase to $12 billion—a noticeable deceleration from the previous...

The European Union (EU) is gearing up to impose a gradual embargo on Russian aluminum, adding a significant element to its next sanctions package targeting Moscow. This policy shift is causing ripples in the aluminum market, leading to increased volatility in metal prices at the London Metal Exchange (LME). The market’s recent rally, which saw aluminum prices spike to $2,637 per ton on Wednesday, January 29, has been...

Spotify, the Swedish music streaming giant, achieved a remarkable financial milestone by reporting profitability for the entire year of 2024. This milestone was unveiled during the presentation of its latest quarterly figures, which showcased significant growth in both subscriber numbers and sales amidst a competitive market landscape. By the end of 2024, Spotify had amassed 263 million premium subscribers, representing an impressive 11% increase compared to the final...

In recent days, Bitcoin’s value has experienced a significant decline, dropping by approximately 10%. Other cryptocurrencies have faced even steeper losses. Most analysts attribute this downturn to new import tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump. As of noon on Monday, investors were paying around $95,300 (93,000 euros) per Bitcoin, a decrease of about 10% from Friday. Earlier in the day, the price dipped below $92,000. According to...

Volkswagen, the renowned German auto manufacturer, is embroiled in a legal battle with Indian authorities over a colossal tax assessment amounting to $1.4 billion (1.35 billion euros). This tax levy is noted as the largest import duty ever imposed by India and has sparked significant controversy. The crux of the dispute lies in Volkswagen’s import strategy. The company reportedly brought in various models of its VW, Skoda, and...

The German industrial giant Bosch witnessed a significant decline in profits last year, with earnings dropping by nearly a third. This downturn is attributed to lackluster sales of electric vehicles across Europe and a broader global economic uncertainty. As a key supplier to the automotive industry, Bosch has been affected by the industry’s broader struggles with diminishing sales and profits, which inevitably impact associated suppliers. In addition to...

The gold market witnessed a historic surge on Thursday as prices soared to unprecedented levels, driven chiefly by the weakening US dollar. As the dollar depreciates, gold becomes more affordable for traders dealing in other currencies, consequently boosting its demand. The price of gold surged to over $2,792 per 31.1 grams, surpassing the previous peak of around $2,790 reached in late October. This upward trend followed the release...

Apple Inc., the world-renowned technology giant, has announced its most successful financial quarter to date, with revenues soaring to $124.3 billion (approximately 119.5 billion euros). This impressive figure, however, masks a complicated performance landscape, particularly in the Chinese market. While CEO Tim Cook expressed satisfaction with the robust financial results, highlighting strong profit margins across Apple’s product lines, the company faced challenges in maintaining its momentum in China,...

ASML, the leading chip machine manufacturer based in Veldhoven (Netherlands), has reported a dramatic increase in orders during the fourth quarter of last year, marking a commendable achievement despite global market challenges. The company’s orders surged to an impressive 7.1 billion euros, a substantial rise from the 2.6 billion euros in the third quarter and an increase from the nearly 5.6 billion euros recorded in the quarter before...

BMW and Tesla, prominent automotive manufacturers, have taken a firm stance against import duties imposed by the European Commission, according to a report by Reuters. Both companies have filed complaints with the European Court of Justice, aligning themselves with several Chinese car manufacturers who also oppose the Brussels-imposed tariffs. Last year, the European Commission decided to implement import duties on electric vehicles manufactured in China and sold within...

In a significant move that has garnered global attention, France has initiated a judicial investigation into Binance, recognized as the world’s largest cryptocurrency platform. The probe zeroes in on serious allegations, including money laundering and tax fraud, with an additional focus on money laundering linked to drug trafficking activities. This investigation emerged in response to complaints from users who reported substantial financial losses after engaging in investments facilitated...

Boeing has reported a staggering net loss of $11.8 billion (€11.2 billion) for the past fiscal year, marking its largest financial setback since 2020. The American aerospace giant last experienced profitability in 2018 and has since been grappling with significant challenges across both its commercial aviation and defense sectors. The company’s financial performance has been adversely affected by a protracted labor strike involving American factory workers, which significantly...

NVIDIA Corporation, a global leader in AI and chip technology, experienced a historic stock decline on Monday, marking its largest trading day loss. The unprecedented drop highlights vulnerabilities in the tech and chip sectors, especially amid the rapid AI market growth. DeepSeek, a groundbreaking Chinese chatbot, challenges established AI giants like NVIDIA, prompting investors to reconsider the competitive landscape. NVIDIA’s market capitalization plummeted by 17% in a day,...

The European Union member states have reached a consensus on extending the existing sanctions against Russia, as announced by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas. These sanctions include trade restrictions and asset freezes, aimed at financially impacting Russia due to its ongoing war against Ukraine. The agreement was finalized just days before the current sanctions were set to expire on Friday, January 31. The sanctions, which involve freezing...