Economy

Fifa has scrapped its plan to sell ownership stakes in the World Cup and other major competitions after widespread opposition from clubs, leagues, and national associations. The decision is a notable setback for president Gianni Infantino, who had positioned the scheme as a multi-billion dollar investment opportunity.

The EU’s trade deficit with China hit €291 billion in 2023, pushing European policymakers to demand a fundamental overhaul of Brussels’ China trade policy. Tariffs on electric vehicles are just the beginning of a broader reckoning.

FIFA’s controversial plan to sell a stake in its commercial operations through a private subsidiary has triggered a wave of fierce opposition from player unions, club associations, and national federations. The proposal raises fundamental questions about who truly controls the future of football.

A proposal published in Nature argues the EU urgently needs regulatory science excellence centres to close its widening innovation gap with the US and China. The hubs would develop scientific tools and standards to help regulators evaluate genuinely novel technologies far faster than today.

Representative Jodey Arrington has joined a congressional push to counter EU regulations that lawmakers say unfairly target American companies. The effort calls on U.S. trade officials to take a tougher stance with Brussels before new rules hit thousands of businesses.

Trade secrets litigation is surging across EU member states as courts wrestle with AI-era disputes and inconsistent directive enforcement. Brussels is now eyeing targeted legal reforms that could reshape how companies protect sensitive commercial information across the bloc.

The European Union has slapped Google with a $1 billion antitrust fine over allegations the company rigged its search results to favor its own products. The penalty adds fresh legal pressure on Alphabet as regulators worldwide intensify scrutiny of Big Tech.

The EU has fined Google roughly $1 billion for allegedly breaking digital competition rules, marking the latest clash between Brussels and Silicon Valley over market dominance. The fine comes under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, a law designed to curb the power of big tech gatekeepers.

The UN Security Council held a landmark debate Wednesday on critical minerals, asking whether lithium, cobalt and copper will build a cleaner future or fund the next generation of conflicts. With demand set to triple by 2030, the answers matter more than ever.

Elon Musk told The Economist he doesn’t care if people hate him and dismissed swelling AI fears with a simple message: ‘Let’s enjoy the ride.’ Not everyone is buckled in.