software
Microsoft faces complaints in Spain
Microsoft has been accused of anti-competitive conduct in a new complaint filed with Spain's antitrust regulator, amid increased scrutiny of the tech giant's influence in the cloud computing market. The Spanish Startup Association, which represents 700 companies and partners include Google and Amazon's cloud arm Amazon WebServices, said on Monday that Microsoft is using its dominance in the software market to force the use of its software, and that competition regulations have been imposed. A formal complaint was filed with the authorities, CNMC. Characteristics of cloud services. — Bloomberg News
International
Aramco maintains dividend payments to Saudi government
Despite falling profits, Aramco maintained its $31 billion dividend to the Saudi government and other investors, a boost for the country's deficit-stricken economy. Generous payments from the world's biggest oil exporters are becoming increasingly important to Gulf states as oil prices remain below the levels needed to balance their budgets. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pursuing big-ticket ventures like Neom's futuristic projects, betting big on tourism and seeking funding for sports leagues as he seeks to transform the economy. — Bloomberg News
entertainment
Sony stock falls on news of Paramount acquisition plan
Sony's proposed takeover of Paramount Global has raised concerns about financing, and Sony shares have fallen. The stock price fell 3.74% in the Tokyo market on Tuesday. The Japanese electronics company and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion takeover offer for Paramount, and Paramount is considering the offer, people familiar with the matter said. — Bloomberg News
cloud computing
Amazon invests billions in Singapore
Amazon plans to spend $9 billion to expand its cloud computing infrastructure in Singapore, the latest global tech company to boost investment in Southeast Asia. The spending, to be carried out over the next four years, will double Amazon Web Services' investment in Singapore and help meet growing customer demand for cloud services and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence, the company announced on Tuesday. did. AWS, which rents and sells software and data storage from large server farms, has expanded outside the United States in recent years, with many of its investments targeting Asian markets. — Bloomberg News
gas price
A road trip this summer is expected to cost about the same amount.
U.S. drivers could pay about the same at the pump this summer, potentially benefiting the Biden administration's efforts to curb inflation. U.S. motorists are expected to pay an average of $3.68 a gallon from April to September, up from $3.67 last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Summer Fuel Outlook report. The gain was 0.3%, even though benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil is expected to rise about 9.7% from last year's levels. — Bloomberg News
workplace
New York City and San Francisco have fewer workers; Austin and Phoenix have more workers.
An analysis released by the New York Fed on Tuesday found that regions such as New York City and San Francisco still have fewer workers than before the pandemic, continuing to hurt the labor market recovery. Meanwhile, Austin's workforce has grown by 17 percent since February 2020, and Phoenix's workforce has grown by nearly 10 percent. Researchers found that an increase in remote work, along with a decline in downtown office workers and tourists, has a direct impact on job growth in metropolitan areas. The Villages, a central Florida retirement community, had the highest job growth, at 23.8%. — Bloomberg News
entertainment
Disney stock plummets on concerns about theme park profits
Disney reported strong earnings Tuesday, driven in part by its first unexpected profit on its flagship streaming service. But investors have recently reacted nervously to a future slowdown at Disney theme parks, the company's main growth driver. Disney shares fell nearly 9% in early trading to about $106. Revenue from the Disney Experience segment, which includes theme parks and cruise ships, totaled $8.4 billion, an increase of 10% from a year ago. Operating income totaled $2.3 billion, an increase of 12%. – New York Times
technology
Apple announces new iPad Pro and Air
Apple announced the next generation iPad Pro and Air on Tuesday. These models are part of the company's first update to its tablet lineup in more than a year, with models boasting faster processors, new sizes, and new display systems. The showcase at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters comes after the company revealed iPhone sales suffered the steepest drop on a quarterly basis since the start of the pandemic, deepening the recession and trending There is growing pressure on the company to improve its products. Apple is expected to garner even more attention next month at its annual conference dedicated to the latest versions of its operating system for iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. Analysts expect the software to be packed with more artificial intelligence technology. — Related press
Fast food
Panera stops selling some caffeinated drinks following lawsuit
Panera Bread plans to stop selling the highly caffeinated fruit-flavored drink, which has been the subject of lawsuits by people who claim the drink has caused health problems, including the deaths of two people. Drinks known as “Charged Lemonade” and “Charged Ships” will be removed from the menu, a person familiar with the decision said Tuesday. According to Panera's website, the regular size of the charged drink, which comes in three flavors, contains at least 155 milligrams of caffeine, while the large size contains at least 233 milligrams. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, most “healthy adults” can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, or about 4 to 5 cups of regular coffee, depending on the brand and roast. . – New York Times
