Business

Google has turned to Europe's highest court in a bid to get it to overturn a massive antitrust fine levied against it six years ago. The €2.4 billion penalty handed down in 2017 over its shopping service was the first of three major fines that cost the internet giant more than €8 billion. Also, faced with the skyrocketing cost of living, Spain's youth are struggling to become financially independent. The average age to leave the parental home has now risen above 30.

Negotiations between the Canadian Unifor union – representing 5,700 workers – and carmaker Ford have been extended for another 24 hours after a prior labour contract expired at midnight on Monday. A strike could be on the cards if a deal is not found by then. Meanwhile, the US's major auto industry union is picketing against Ford, GM and Stellantis. Also in this edition, the EU's digital chief raises concerns over Chinese data laws. Plus, olive oil prices reach record highs.

French retail giant Carrefour has started putting stickers on products that have shrunk in size but that cost the same or even more, in a bid to warn customers against "shrinkflation". The move comes ahead of new contract talks that are set to begin soon. Meanwhile, the government is planning to temporarily lift a ban on retailers selling fuel at below-cost, in order to help households struggling to cope with stubbornly high inflation.

General Motors, Stellantis and Ford are being hit by walkouts Friday after talks broke down between the automakers and the United Auto Workers union. It's the first time all three companies have been affected by a strike simultaneously, which is being described as the "most ambitious US industrial action in decades". Workers' demands include a 36% pay increase, shorter working hours and an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs.

Apple launched its latest iPhone on Tuesday during an event at its California headquarters, highlighting the device’s new features such as a USB charging port and a titanium lining. The company is diversifying its supply chain away from China by increasing the number of smartphones made in India. Also in this edition, a traffic jam is forming at the entrance of the Panama Canal as passage has been restricted to conserve water. German sandal brand Birkenstock files for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. We take a closer look.

Google and its parent company Alphabet will spend the next ten weeks on the docket in a federal court in Washington DC as they face accusations of rigging the market in their favour. FRANCE 24’s correspondent Eric Pape explains what this might mean for the tech giant as he reports from Los Angeles. We also take a look at an Amnesty International report on human rights abuses within DR Congo’s growing cobalt and copper mining industry, which is driven by rising demand for electric vehicle batteries.

US President Joe Biden and Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong have signed a "strategic partnership" on semiconductor manufacturing and rare earth minerals in a bid to counter China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region. We take a closer look. Also, Chevron tries to head off strikes at its Australian LNG plants, and Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour boosts the US hotel industry.

Shortly after touching down in New Delhi for the G20 summit, US President Joe Biden met with Indian PM Narendra Modi for just under an hour of talks. The two leaders released a statement reaffirming cooperation on issues ranging from semiconductor chips to nuclear energy. Biden also welcomed a request for New Delhi to procure 31 General Atomics MQ-9B drones, which the two countries said would enhance the Indian military's intelligence and surveillance capabilities. We take a closer look.

Apple's market value has tumbled by some $200 billion in the wake of reports that Beijing has banned iPhones among government employees. We take a closer look. Also, Chinese car manufacturers make inroads into the European market, and New York City cracks down on Airbnb.

The UK has announced it's rejoining the European Union's flagship science funding programme, Horizon. In the wake of Brexit, London had been blocked from re-associating with the scheme, which is the world's biggest civil research and innovation programme. The UK government says the new deal gives local scientists "unrivalled opportunities" at a good price for taxpayers. We take a closer look.