Author: Grace Johnson

Donald Trump has appealed to the US Supreme Court to defend his tariff program. He wants the justices to overturn a ruling that found his broad trade duties illegal. Dispute over executive power The administration filed its petition on Wednesday night. It urges the court to quickly decide whether a president can impose tariffs without Congress. Last week, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 7-4 against Trump. Judges stated that the power to set import duties rests solely with Congress. Billions in potential refunds The case could undermine Trump’s trade and foreign policy agenda. It may also require the…

The US government’s monopoly case against Google has drawn intense attention across the globe. Not since Microsoft faced trial in 1998 has Big Tech confronted such a challenge. One year after Judge Amit Mehta declared Google a monopolist, he outlined remedies that critics call lenient but others argue could still reshape competition. Google avoids structural changes During the remedies phase, many feared Google could face a forced split. Judge Mehta rejected demands to spin off Chrome, the world’s most popular browser. The Justice Department also sought oversight of Android to prevent Google from reinforcing its dominance in search and ads.…

Gold has surged to an all-time high as global uncertainty fuels demand for safe assets. On Tuesday morning, the spot price climbed to $3,508.50 per ounce. The rally has lifted gold by nearly a third since the start of the year. Tariffs and global trade tensions push prices Gold often gains strength when markets face turmoil. Earlier this year, its value rose after President Donald Trump introduced sweeping tariffs. The measures unsettled global trade and increased appetite for security. Analysts also expect the US central bank to lower interest rates, further boosting gold’s appeal. Adrian Ash, research director at BullionVault,…

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD fell by up to 8% on Monday. The decline followed weaker profit results, hit by fierce discounting in a competitive auto industry. Net profit falls sharply On Friday, BYD announced net profit of 6.4bn yuan ($900m; £660m) for April to June. That was 30% lower than the same quarter last year. The company admitted that intensified price competition had put pressure on the whole EV market. Rivals slash prices to lure buyers The Shenzhen-based automaker competes against Nio, XPeng, and Tesla, all of which have cut prices aggressively. BYD shares opened weaker in…

Beer drinking in Germany is falling, while alcohol-free options are booming. The federal statistics office reports sales of alcohol-free beer have grown by 109 percent since 2013. Meanwhile, overall beer sales have reached their lowest level in over 30 years. For the first time, total sales dropped below four billion liters in a six-month period. Between January and June 2025, breweries sold around 3.9 billion liters. That marks a decline of 6.3 percent, or 262 million liters, compared with the same period last year. brewers adjust to younger audiences The Erdinger brewery near Munich has been producing beer since the…

A US appeals court has ruled that most tariffs introduced by Donald Trump were unlawful. The decision deals a serious blow to his trade policies and sets the stage for a showdown at the Supreme Court. The judgement cancels Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs against dozens of countries. It also blocks levies on China, Mexico and Canada. Judges underline Congress holds tariff powers In a 7-4 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit declared the tariffs “invalid as contrary to law”. The judges rejected Trump’s reliance on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. They stressed that the authority to…

The United States has ended a tariff exemption that long allowed cheap goods to enter without duties. From Friday, parcels worth $800 or less face new customs checks and tariff charges. The rule change will affect millions of shipments daily. In 2023, about 1.4 billion packages valued at over $64bn entered under this exemption, official data shows. Experts warn prices will climb, choices will shrink, and small businesses will struggle to adapt. Buenos Aires shoe brand owner Katherine Theobalds fears her firm could collapse. “It might be the end for us,” she said. The origins of the de minimis rule…

Nvidia has achieved record-breaking results on the back of rising global demand for artificial intelligence, though political disputes continue to weigh on its future. On Wednesday, the California-based chipmaker announced $46.7bn (£34.6bn) in second-quarter revenue, up 56% compared with the same period last year. Despite the surge, shares slipped in after-hours trading after the company admitted it was still “working through geopolitical issues”. Nvidia remains at the centre of the trade conflict between Washington and Beijing. Shifting policies under the Trump administration, designed to safeguard America’s lead in artificial intelligence, add more uncertainty to its prospects. Tech giants drive AI…

South Korea has passed a law banning smartphones and other smart devices during school hours. The country joins a global trend restricting phone use to protect students’ education and wellbeing. The law will take effect in March 2026. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties backed it. They argue it is needed to tackle smartphone addiction, which research increasingly links to negative effects. Parents and lawmakers push for limits Supporters say phones disrupt lessons and harm academic performance. Children spend too much time scrolling instead of studying or socialising. Parents worry devices prevent their children from forming friendships or engaging…

US President Donald Trump has declared his intention to immediately remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. The move marks an unprecedented escalation in his confrontation with the central bank. Trump claimed there was “sufficient reason” to accuse Cook of submitting false information in mortgage agreements. He argued that constitutional powers grant him authority to dismiss her. Cook firmly rejected the attempt, saying the president had no power to fire her. She insisted she would not resign. No president has previously tried to dismiss a Federal Reserve governor. Trump’s decision follows months of pressure on the bank and its chair Jerome…