Business

The Wall Street Journal reports that a storied Indian business empire is being torn apart by infighting, with internal disputes fracturing one of the country's most prominent family-run conglomerates. The feud threatens the group's stability and future direction, drawing attention to the fragility of India's large family-controlled business houses, which dominate key sectors of the economy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a former business litigator has become the Justice Department's lead official directing legal action against gender-affirming care for transgender people. The profile highlights how a career focused on commercial disputes placed him at the center of one of the most contested policy battles in the US, drawing attention to the department's strategy and the official's personal and professional background.

YouTube and Meta have reversed their earlier decisions and will now accept advertising for the 'Musk' trailer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The shift means promotional material for the film can run on both major digital platforms, and the reversal is drawing attention as a notable about-face by two of the biggest players in online advertising.

Apple has been hit with a $5.7 billion verdict over allegations that it infringed a patent, according to a report by Engadget. The ruling, if it stands, would be one of the largest patent judgments against the company, and attention is turning to whether Apple will appeal.

A question is being raised across Europe about whether minimum wages have kept pace with rising food prices. With food inflation having surged in recent years, the debate focuses on whether statutory wage increases have preserved workers' purchasing power, and how the gap varies between countries with higher and lower minimum wage levels.

Meta says it will now accept advertisements for a documentary about Elon Musk, reversing an earlier refusal. The decision, reported by TechCrunch, matters because ad rejections involving Musk draw scrutiny of Meta's content moderation and platform policies. Critics and supporters of the company are weighing in on whether the reversal reflects public pressure or an internal policy correction.

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com and Tumblr, has announced a new board of directors following an unsuccessful attempt to place its CEO on leave. The episode has drawn attention to internal governance tensions at the company, which has faced scrutiny in recent years over its leadership and its disputes within the WordPress ecosystem. Details about the new board members' identities remain limited.

Meta is positioning AI agents as tools for ordinary consumers, not just corporate customers, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move signals that conversational AI assistants are moving into everyday personal use, widening the market beyond enterprise software and putting consumer-facing agents at the center of the company's AI strategy.

JioHotstar, the streaming service formed by the merger of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, is drawing attention in India this week. Entertainment coverage, including listings of what to watch on OTT platforms, is driving searches around the service as audiences look for new films and series available to stream.

A reporter has tested the player-protection measures that DraftKings, one of the largest US sports betting operators, says it has in place to guard against problem gambling. The findings are prompting discussion about how effective self-exclusion tools, deposit limits and identity checks really are, and whether regulators should tighten requirements on the fast-growing online betting industry.

A study of 4,688 small-business websites found that 49.7% met none of seven basic security header criteria, highlighting widespread gaps in everyday web hygiene among smaller firms. The findings suggest many small businesses lack the technical resources or awareness to implement standard protections, leaving sites more exposed to common attacks like script injection and clickjacking.

Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services as it seeks new markets and partners in the region.

Oil-field service companies are preparing to report quarterly results that are expected to show how the war has affected their business. Investors and analysts will be watching the earnings season in the energy sector for signs of how conflict-driven costs, supply disruptions and shifting demand for drilling and oilfield services have filtered through to the bottom line of major providers.

American companies are beginning to receive refunds on tariffs, and many are finding unconventional ways to use the incoming money. The refunds follow legal and policy changes that required duties collected by the US government to be returned to importers. Businesses are reportedly allocating the funds in creative ways rather than straightforward reinvestment, drawing attention to how trade policy shifts are affecting corporate balance sheets.

Major US airlines are waiving change fees for travellers across the Northeast as a nor'easter brings disruptive winter weather to the region. The waivers let passengers rebook flights without paying the usual change charges, a standard move ahead of storms expected to cause cancellations and delays. Travellers in affected airports are being urged to check their flight status and take advantage of the flexibility while it lasts.

A psychologist says business leaders are suffering under the pressures created by artificial intelligence, according to a Forbes report. Leaders face constant pressure to adopt AI tools, keep pace with rapid change, and answer to boards and employees expecting an AI strategy. The piece suggests this sustained demand is taking a measurable toll on executives' mental wellbeing.

OpenAI has published guidance identifying the workplace skills it considers most valuable in the AI era. The company's findings are drawing attention from businesses and workers assessing how artificial intelligence is reshaping job requirements, with details of the report carried by Business Insider.

Taiwan's foreign minister has departed for Belize and Guatemala, accompanied by a business delegation. The visit underscores Taipei's efforts to maintain ties with two of its remaining diplomatic allies in Central America and to promote trade and investment opportunities. Details about the delegation's agenda or the officials involved were not immediately available.

Saturday Night Live aired a sketch mocking the relationship between Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the New York politician frequently at odds with the president. The bit played on their public sparring and unlikely dynamic, drawing attention across entertainment and political media. CNN Business covered the sketch, reflecting continued interest in how late-night comedy frames the Trump-Mamdani rivalry as Mamdani's national profile rises.

Meta has spent months working to turn Muse into a successful product, according to a Business Insider report. The story details the internal effort behind the project, though the report is new and specific claims about Muse's development and reception have not yet been widely picked up by other outlets.

JioHotstar is trending in India as the streaming platform's weekly lineup draws attention, including the Aneet Padda-led series Hunkkaar and Don't Be Shy, produced by Alia Bhatt. Indian Express's weekly OTT watchlist feature is driving viewers to check what is new across streaming services, with JioHotstar among the most searched names.

David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of the Ruby on Rails web framework, says developers should call 'pencils down' on writing code by hand, arguing that AI-assisted coding is changing how software gets built. The remarks have sparked debate in the programming community about whether hand-written code still has a place as AI coding tools become mainstream.

Meta's data center construction projects are drawing large numbers of workers to communities near its facilities, straining local housing supply. New reporting features photos of workforce housing developments built or expanded to accommodate the influx of construction and operations staff, highlighting how big tech infrastructure investment is reshaping small-town housing markets across the United States.

MacKenzie Scott, the novelist and philanthropist who divorced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, has released her first novel since the split. Early coverage of the book says it leaves readers with more questions than answers, with reviewers puzzling over its themes and what, if anything, it reveals about her life and marriage.

American Express has introduced new business savings and payroll tools for its customers, according to a report carried by Yahoo Finance. The move expands the company's offering for small and mid-sized business clients, adding cash management and payroll capabilities alongside its existing card and payments services. Details on pricing, availability and how the tools will be bundled with current Amex business accounts were not provided in the report.

Jim Ukrop, the former chief executive of Richmond-area grocery chain Ukrop's Markets, has died at the age of 89. He is being remembered as a prominent business and civic leader in central Virginia, where the family-run supermarket was a local institution for decades before its sale in 2010.

Nearly 333 pounds of tuna sold under the Buckhead brand is being recalled across five states after testing found elevated levels of scombrotoxin, a compound that can cause scombroid food poisoning with symptoms like flushing, headache and rapid heartbeat. The recall covers a small quantity of product, and consumers are advised to check their purchases and discard affected tuna.

Alabama teenagers are set to receive their own version of TikTok as part of a sweeping $100 million deal, according to Fox Business. Details about who is funding the initiative, what the app will offer, and how it will differ from the popular short-video platform have not been disclosed, but the announcement is drawing attention as states weigh responses to TikTok's prominence among young users.

Filippo Bernardini, the Italian man who posed as editors and agents to steal unpublished manuscripts from authors across the book world for years, is the subject of renewed attention over whether he is operating again. The New York Times revisits the scheme, which ensnared writers including Margaret Atwood, and asks whether the scammer, who faced US fraud charges, has resumed his activities.

A Hawaiian business owner and resident is describing the difficulties facing her community this season as Hurricane Nolo approaches the islands. She highlights the strain on local businesses and residents preparing for the storm, adding a personal perspective to coverage of the hurricane's expected impact on Hawaii.

Police in Richmond, Virginia are investigating after a man was found dead inside a business in the city's North Side. Details about the man's identity, cause of death, and whether foul play was involved have not been released, and the investigation remains ongoing as authorities gather information.

A man was shot and killed inside a business in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, according to police. Details about the victim's identity, the circumstances of the shooting, and whether any suspects are in custody have not yet been released as the investigation continues.

A Spokane man has been arrested on allegations that he ran a cocaine distribution operation out of local homes, selling what investigators describe as thousands of packages. Authorities say the case highlights how drug operations can be concealed inside ordinary residential properties. The arrest is drawing local attention in Washington state.

ATC Manufacturing is expanding its facility in Post Falls, Idaho. The announcement was reported by the Coeur d'Alene Press as a regional business story. Details on the scale of the expansion, investment amount, or expected job creation were not included in the initial report, and reactions from local officials or residents have not yet been recorded.

Small businesses on Kauai are asking visitors to come back following Hurricane Lowell, saying the island is ready to welcome them with aloha and some patience as recovery continues. The appeal reflects concern that travelers may cancel trips even where damage was limited, hurting shops and restaurants that depend on tourism.

Afognak, the Alaska Native village corporation from Kodiak's Afognak Island, has taken majority ownership of trucking and fuel companies operating in Alaska. The move expands the corporation's business portfolio and strengthens its role in the state's transportation and energy supply sectors, drawing attention as an example of Alaska Native corporate investment in core regional industries.

Prosecutors have dropped tax theft charges against the owners of a roofing company in Pierce County, Washington. The owners described the situation as a mistake, and the case against them has been dismissed. The Tacoma News Tribune reported the development, though details on why charges were tossed remain limited in initial coverage.

Jim Ukrop has died at the age of 89. He helped grow Ukrop's Super Markets into a Richmond institution that became a fixture of central Virginia life for decades. Coverage of his death is drawing reflections on the family-run grocery chain's role in the region and his place in Richmond's business community.

Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein is considering opening a temporary event center at the Showboat property in Atlantic City as he looks for new ways to use the former casino complex. The proposal would bring concerts or large-scale events to the Boardwalk site while longer-term plans for the property are developed. The move fits Blatstein's broader push to redevelop the Showboat into a non-gaming attraction.

A county commission has approved an increase in transaction fees, according to local reporting from Derby, Kansas. The decision means residents and businesses conducting certain transactions with county offices will pay more per transaction. Details on the fee amount, which services are affected, and when the increase takes effect were not provided in the available report, and no public reaction has been recorded yet.

A St. Louis area business bulletin reports three developments: Bridges has been acquired, IMPACT has received an award, and Dot Foods has made a donation. The brief items point to ongoing dealmaking and corporate giving activity in the region. Readers following local business news are discussing the roundup of acquisitions, honors and philanthropy.

The Downtown Dova development is set to go before the Rancho Cordova planning commission for review. The project would be a significant addition to the Sacramento-area suburb's push to build out a more urban downtown core, and local business and civic observers are watching how commissioners respond to the proposal at the upcoming hearing.