MAY 6 — E-commerce platforms compete to bring tens of millions of Indian mom-and-pop stores into their supply chains. India’s retail market could grow to nearly $1.5 trillion by 2030. Microsoft pledged to store all European cloud-based client data in the EU. EU market could grow by a factor of 5 to 10x by 2030. Many US-based companies struggle to find workers. Higher wages and post-vaccination reopening could ease up labor shortages.

MAY 7 — Google released plans for a new privacy update for 2022 that will provide more user transparency. A leaked memo from Walmart revealed how competitive the grocery delivery landscape is with Europe as the next big market. And IBM’s latest 2nm microchip is the latest innovation in an industry set to expand to $1.2 trillion by 2030.

MAY 5 — China’s Pinduoduo could become the world’s largest social commerce platform due to its unique focus on interactive experiences. Chinese automakers could produce over eight million electric cars a year by 2028. The US has nullified a rule that would have made it more difficult for gig workers to be considered employees. New York Digital Investment Group and fintech company FIS partnered to provide a framework for US banks to offer crypto trading to customers.

MAY 4th — Uber will partner with UK startup Arrival to create an EV by 2023, designed specifically for Uber drivers. The UK and India will deepen trade relations over the next decade as part of a new diplomatic roadmap. President Biden plans to deliver at least one vaccine dose to 70% of the US by July 4th. Meanwhile, BioNTech’s founders predict the pandemic could last until 2022. MDMA-assisted therapy could be approved by the FDA as early as 2023.

MAY 3 — The EPA proposed new rules to reduce polluting coolants from air conditioners and refrigerators by 85% over the next 15 years. Merck’s new CEO has become the first woman in Germany to run a DAX 30-listed company, signaling the need for better inclusivity. The semiconductor shortage is expected to cost the entire auto industry $61 billion in 2021, and could continue in 2022. Tyson unveiled its newest lineup of 100% vegan meat products as the plant-based meat industry is expected to be worth $9.43 billion by 2026.

APRIL 30 — Cloud-computing spending hit a record $41.8 billion this quarter as more businesses relied on the internet to make it through the pandemic. New research predicts global spending on medicine could grow to $1.6 trillion by 2025. The number of people in the US who expect to work after age 67 fell to a record low of 32.9%. The price of lumber has added nearly $36,000 to the cost of an average single-family home. This calls for alternative ways to increase lumber supply.

APRIL 29 — Biden’s $1.8 trillion American Families Plan proposes to expand the social safety net over ten years. Kaia Health just raised $75 million for its digital physical therapy platform as digital health tech continues on an upward trend. Germany’s highest court has ordered the government to bring the country’s carbon emissions down to almost zero by 2050. New research from Goldman Sachs predicts quantum computing could be ready in five years or less.

APRIL 28 — Lyft will sell its autonomous vehicle division since autonomous vehicles will likely not be a reality before 2025. Australia is the next country to level an antitrust complaint against Apple, as tech companies are the new target of many governments. New FAA rules for drones could give a boost to the commercialization of flying machines. Real estate investors in the US may no longer defer tax payments on capital gains.

APRIL 27 — Basecamp banned political discussions at work, fueling the debate on whether civil discussions are better for society or a distraction from work. France and Germany released a joint economic plan to invest more heavily in environmental and digital technologies. The US will raise the federal contractor minimum wage as class inequality looms large. And Japan will use technologies like virus-testing robots and 6G to advance its long-term economic future.

APRIL 26 — Apple’s highly anticipated privacy update comes out this week with serious implications for the digital ad industry. Chinese e-commerce site Jd.com is already paying salaries with the digital yuan. A new weedkilling robot can manage 20 acres per day as the pandemic accelerates robot adoption. And PE-firm Thoma Bravo is taking the cybersecurity company Proofpoint private for $12.3 billion as M&A activity in cybersecurity heats up.