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Europe
The Guardian

US supreme court rules Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies

Rebecca Slaughter in Washington DC on 13 July 2023. Photograph: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenRebecca Slaughter in Washington DC on 13 July 2023. Photograph: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesUS supreme courtUS supreme court rules Trump can fire leaders of independent agenciesCase focused on White House’s March 2025 firing of Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter The US supreme court has ruled that Donald Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies or commissions, ending 90 years of court precedent that curbs executive power. The vote in the case of Trump v Slaughter is 6-3, with dissents from Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan. The case was focused on the White House’s March 2025 firing of the Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter. Trump fired Slaughter over email, telling her that keeping her as a commissioner would be “inconsistent with [the] administration’s priorities”. Upon her termination, Slaughter sued the Trump administration, saying she was fired without cause, and a lower court ruled for her reinstatement. In challenging Slaughter’s suit, the White House argued the court should overturn Humphrey’s Executor v United States, a landmark ruling from 1935 in which the supreme court ruled that the president unlawfully fired a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), limiting the president’s power over independent agencies. “I think by our best count, there are about two dozen agencies with a similar structure to the FTC, multi-member bipartisan board or commission with some form of implicit or explicit removal protection, and a common thread among them is that they all have some important authority in protecting market integrity, making sure economic decisions are being made without fear or favor, and I think they are all at risk,” Slaughter said during a press call on the decision on Monday. Slaughter noted that the supreme court also ruled on Monday to block Trump’s move to fire the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Slaughter added it was “very difficult for me to reconcile Cook and Slaughter decisions in that somehow Wall Street is special and gets special treatment”. “Today, this Court undoes centuries of political practice and concludes that all three branches of Government have been acting in open defiance of the Constitution all this time. Its conclusion is wrong,” wrote Sotomayor in her dissent, joined by Kagan and Jackson. “The text of the Constitution, along with its history, the longstanding practices of the political branches, and the precedents of this Court, make clear that Congress may limit the causes for which the heads of Commissions like the FTC can be removed by the President,” they continued. “In holding otherwise, the Court gives the President a power unknown even to the English Crown against which the Founders revolted, elevating him above his once coequal branches by transforming a duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed into a license to act in defiance of those very laws.” The FTC is tasked with enforcing consumer protection and anti-trust laws. The agency is structured with five bipartisan commissioners, and no more than three can come from the same party. Congress placed restrictions on the hiring and firing of commissioners in an effort to insulate the agency from partisan politics. The Trump administration asked the court of appeals to put the ruling on hold while it appealed, but was denied.

US supreme court rules Trump can fire leaders of independent agencies
Europe
The Guardian

US supreme court rules Trump’s firing of Lisa Cook from Fed was unconstitutional

Lisa Cook at the Economic Club of Miami earlier this month. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenLisa Cook at the Economic Club of Miami earlier this month. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesUS supreme courtUS supreme court rules Trump’s firing of Lisa Cook from Fed was unconstitutionalJustices find president does not have constitutional authority to fire Federal Reserve governor without cause The US supreme court has refused Donald Trump’s attempts to immediately fire a Federal Reserve governor, in a landmark ruling that limits a president’s authority over the central bank. In a 5-4 opinion, the court said that Lisa Cook can stay on as a governor while she fights unproved allegations of mortgage fraud made by the Trump officials. “The court decides this application on the narrow ground that the president failed to afford Cook the procedural protections to which she was entitled by statute. Without such protections, she could not properly dispute the charges the president laid against her,” the justices said. The case was centered on Cook, a Joe Biden appointee whose 14-year term on the Federal Reserve board of governors is scheduled to expire in 2038. Cook is the first Black woman to serve on the Fed’s board. Last August, on social media, Trump abruptly fired Cook. The president claimed he had evidence that Cook committed mortgage fraud, an illegal practice where a homebuyer lists a second property as a primary resident to obtain a better mortgage rate. Cook denied the allegations and sued the Trump administration, saying it fired her without cause. The justices’ protection over the Fed decision is a departure from how the court has handled Trump in his second term, allowing the president broad power to carry out his agenda without congressional approval. On Monday, the court also ruled that Trump had the authority to fire Rebecca Slaughter, a Democratic commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, who was removed from her position before her term ended. The court has also allowed Trump to remove a Democratic-appointed member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), leaving the powerful union board without a quorum needed to decide on labor disputes. The court also stripped lower district courts of their power to issue nationwide injunctions, which was often used to block Trump in his first administration, and stayed a lower court’s ruling that restricted Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) from using race and ethnicity as the basis for reasonable suspicion in immigration enforcement. But the court seems determined to protect the Fed. The ruling is a major win for the central bank, which has spent the last year under attack from the White House. Over the past year, most Fed officials have broadly ignored demands of loyalty from Trump, who believes interest rates should be lower. Trump has attacked the Fed for holding interest rates at levels he believes are too high and are stifling the economy. The independence of the Fed is widely regarded as sacrosanct, but Trump has continued to press for the central bank to follow his will. Much of his ire over the last year has been directed at Jerome Powell, a Fed governor and former Fed chair who Trump first appointed in 2018. In January, the justice department placed Powell under investigation, purportedly over testimony he gave last summer about renovations at the Fed’s headquarters that went over budget.

US supreme court rules Trump’s firing of Lisa Cook from Fed was unconstitutional
Europe
BBC Business

Why the expected fight over the North American trade deal never kicked off

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesByMichelle FleuryNew York business correspondentPublished1 hour agoFor months, policymakers, businesses and trade watchers in Washington had been bracing for a turbulent spring and summer around the future of the USMCA, the trade pact binding the United States, Canada and Mexico. But, to quote former UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, "Events, dear boy, events." The war with Iran has dominated Washington's attention, stripping away much of the political heat that was expected to surround the pact's renewal. Instead of a noisy fight over the agreement's future, the USMCA has slipped into the background. The Iran conflict has absorbed the White House's attention and, in practical terms, has become one of the best developments for keeping the trade pact out of the headlines. Earlier this year, there were concerns the US might use the renewal window to force a confrontation with Canada and Mexico, or even threaten withdrawal. President Trump had already cooled on the deal he once signed, raising questions about how aggressively Washington would approach the next phase. But with foreign policy dominating the administration's agenda, the US has taken a more measured approach. It has confirmed it will not extend the agreement for another 16 years, while stopping short of more dramatic action. Part of that restraint reflects a belief inside the administration that the trade relationship has already been reshaped. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer argues the White House's tariff strategy has fundamentally altered North America's economic ties, changing the balance with Canada and Mexico in ways that make a more confrontational approach unnecessary. But if trade does become more politically driven, the US auto industry could be the biggest loser. The timing is significant. Washington's effort to recalibrate its relationship with China depends in part on closer co-operation with its two largest trading partners. Introducing uncertainty into North America's economic framework risks undermining that strategy. As Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's former ambassador to the US, put it, in World Cup terms it would be "a huge own goal". As a result, the 1 July virtual meeting between the three countries, once seen as a potential flashpoint, proved subdued. The US has begun formal talks with Mexico and remains in contact with Canadian officials, suggesting negotiations are proceeding without the expected political drama. And with midterm elections approaching, analysts expect that calmer tone to continue. The decision not to renew the pact now starts a 10-year countdown. If no extension is agreed by then, the USMCA will expire. For now, however, annual reviews and steady diplomacy have replaced the brinkmanship many once expected.

Why the expected fight over the North American trade deal never kicked off
Europe
BBC Business

EU border delays 'not bearable' over summer, warns airport boss

Image source, Getty ImagesByKaty Austin, Transport correspondent and Dearbail Jordan, Business reporterPublished2 July 2026, 10:38 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoThe boss of Berlin Airport has said non-EU nationals arriving in the German capital are having to queue for up to two hours under a new digital border system, and warned the situation is "not bearable over the summer". Aletta von Massenbach told the BBC that at one terminal in Berlin, where Ryanair and Wizz Air operate, waiting times can run between "an hour to two hours". Under the EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES) travellers from outside the bloc must register biometric information when entering most European countries, which is checked when they leave. Airports and airlines say the system is not working. The European Commission (EC) says it is willing to offer more support. EES is meant to modernise the EU's system of border control, making it more secure and eventually making travel smoother. While the system has worked fine in some places, there have been regular reports of long waits at passport control, especially at peak times. Some passengers say they have missed flights home because they've been held up in queues. "There are so many sub-systems for each and every member state," she told the BBC's Today programme. "We see that the complexity doesn't really support smooth processing at the border." Technology issues have prevented EES from being used in the UK at the Port of Dover where French border checks take place. A new processing area has 84 kiosks to record fingerprints and photographs but currently is not being used because the technology for the kiosks - the responsibility of the French authorities – cannot be activated. Port of Dover chief executive, Doug Bannister, told MPs on Thursday "time is rapidly running out" to fix it. "We are rapidly heading towards the start of the critical summer period and are yet to receive the assurances we need to avoid what has the potential to be a very challenging six weeks," he said.

EU border delays 'not bearable' over summer, warns airport boss
Europe
BBC Business

Google must pay €4.1bn fine for using Android to 'block' rivals

Image source, iStock via Getty imagesByLaura CressPublished2 hours agoEurope's top court has ruled Google must pay a €4.1bn (£3.5bn) fine handed down for using its Android mobile operating system to block rivals. The European Commission had originally handed out a €4.3bn (then £3.9bn) fine in 2018, but this was trimmed to €4.1 bn in 2022. An appeal brought by the tech giant has now been dismissed. A Google spokesperson said the judgement "fails to recognise" the firm's "significant investment to ensure Android remains open, interoperable and free". "In any event, we adapted our agreements to comply with the initial decision back in 2018 and we remain focused on continued innovation and openness for our users, partners and developers," they continued. It was acknowledged that Google's version of Android does not prevent device owners downloading alternative web browsers or using other search engines. Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai blogged in response, external at the time to the original fine that the decision "rejects the business model that supports Android, which has created more choice for everyone, not less." This is not the first case brought against Google and its parent company Alphabet by the European Commission. In September 2024 it ruled Google must pay a €2.4bn (£2bn) fine handed down for abusing the market dominance of its shopping-comparison service. Then in September 2025, it fined the search giant €2.95bn (£2.5bn), finding it had breached competition laws by favouring its own products for displaying online ads, to the detriment of rivals. In October 2024 a charge was brought against the firm by a Russian court for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube.

Google must pay €4.1bn fine for using Android to 'block' rivals
Europe
BBC Business

'We give up to £400': How much should you gift at a wedding?

Being a wedding guest can be expensive - there's travel, accommodation, you might even treat yourself to a new outfit - then there's another cost to factor in: the gift. It's now commonplace for invitations to read: "Your presence is enough, but if you would like to give us a gift, please donate to our honeymoon fund." But replacing the traditional gift list with bank transfer details, can leave guests with a new etiquette dilemma: how much are you expected to give? Wedding list service Prezola says it has seen a rise in couples inviting guests to pay for specific experiences rather than a generic cash pot. It says the average guest contribution is £116. But expectations can vary widely, depending on everything from closeness and culture to the cost of attending. Johnny, 34, says he and his wife Lottie contribute between £250 and £400 depending on how close they are to the bride and groom and what they can afford at the time. At his own wedding, most close friends gave between £100 and £200, one couple gave £400 and they received £2,000 from Johnny's dad. They used it as spending money on their 17-day honeymoon in Canada which Johnny says they'd saved for "because it's not worth the risk of relying on donations". Hannah Rose-Thorn, 30, says she "always gives £50 in a card" and found that the average contribution to her own honeymoon fund was the same. "We mentioned money on our invitations and also created print-out QR codes for people to scan at the bar," she says. She received £3,000 which will be used as spending money for the honeymoon which she had already paid for. According to Hitched, a UK-based wedding planning website, the average UK couple spends around £4,000 on their honeymoon.

'We give up to £400': How much should you gift at a wedding?
North America
CNBC Economy

China widens Japan export curbs, targeting drone makers, nuclear firms and defense institutes

China on Monday blacklisted four Japanese government defense research institutes and imposed tighter export restrictions on dozens of other Japanese entities, escalating a months-long campaign to limit Tokyo's access to Chinese-origin dual-use goods. The Ministry of Commerce added 20 entities, including the National Institute for Defense Studies and research centers for ground, naval, and air systems, to the export control list. Several units under Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries were also targeted. Domestic exporters, as well as overseas organizations or individuals, are prohibited from transferring Chinese-origin dual-use items to the named entities, according to the statement, adding that any ongoing activities must stop immediately. Separately, China also added another 20, including Mitsui E&S Co., drone maker Terra Drone Corporation, nuclear fuel processors, and multiple units of OKI Electric Industry to a watch list requiring enhanced licensing scrutiny. Both actions take effect immediately. The ministry said it would apply stricter end-user and end-use reviews to watch-listed entities, and that exports involving Japanese military users, military applications or any end-use that could strengthen Japan's defense capabilities would not be approved. The measures mark the latest escalation in a campaign launched in January, when Beijing banned dual-use exports to Japanese military users. In February, China added 20 entities, including subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, IHI Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, to its export control list and another 20 firms, including Subaru Corp., TDK Corp. and FUJI Aerospace Technology to the watch list. China has ratcheted up pressure on Tokyo after comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo, which drew criticism from Beijing. In a statement Monday, a spokesperson for the commerce ministry said Japan had shown no remorse since the February listings and had instead "accelerated" its push toward what Beijing characterizes as "new-style militarism" — including deploying offensive weapons and launching missiles overseas. Beijing urged Japan to "turn back from the wrong path," while insisting the measures would not affect normal bilateral economic and trade activities and that "law-abiding Japanese firms have no reasons to worry." Market reactions were mixed following the statement. Mitsubishi Electric slid around 1% while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries gained 4.9%. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.

China widens Japan export curbs, targeting drone makers, nuclear firms and defense institutes
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Five Trends That Will Shape the Future of Obesity Care in India: Ajanta Pharma Shares Its Perspective on the Next Decade of Metabolic Health

MUMBAI, India , July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- India is approaching a pivotal moment in the evolution of obesity and metabolic health management. As awareness grows among healthcare professionals and patients alike, the obesity care ecosystem is rapidly transitioning from reactive treatment toward proactive and long-term disease management. According to recent estimates, India is home to one of the world's largest populations living with overweight and obesity. This growing burden is contributing substantially to the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and other metabolic disorders. As healthcare systems increasingly recognize obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term management, the need for comprehensive and evidence-based obesity care has never been greater. Ajanta Pharma today outlined five emerging trends that are expected to shape the future of obesity care in India over the coming years. Experts increasingly recognize that the future of obesity management extends beyond weight reduction alone. Effective obesity care is expected to play a critical role in comprehensive cardiometabolic risk management, including diabetes prevention, cardiovascular health, improvement in obesity-related complications, and long-term enhancement of overall metabolic well-being. Ajanta Pharma believes these trends highlight the need for comprehensive care models that combine medical innovation with education and patient engagement. To support this evolving landscape, the company is investing in initiatives focused on patient awareness, healthcare professional engagement, and digital support solutions designed to improve treatment adherence and long-term outcomes. As part of this commitment, Ajanta Pharma has expanded its obesity management portfolio with Ozanta ® , a semaglutide-based therapy, while simultaneously exploring patient support programs, expert-led education initiatives, and digital engagement platforms. "The future of obesity management will be defined not only by scientific advancements but by how effectively we support patients throughout their journey. Building awareness, improving access to information, and strengthening patient engagement will be critical to long-term success," said Mr. Pourus Vakil, President - India Business, Ajanta Pharma. As obesity continues to emerge as one of India's most pressing health challenges, Ajanta Pharma remains committed to supporting healthcare professionals and patients through science-led innovation and responsible healthcare initiatives. Ajanta Pharma is a speciality pharmaceutical formulation company having major focus on branded generic business across India, Asia & Africa. Company has ground presence in each of these 30+ countries. Many of company's products are 1st to market and are leading in their sub-therapeutic segments. Company also has presence in USA in generic business and institution business in Africa. Company's state of the art R&D centre is in Mumbai. Company has 7 world class manufacturing facilities located in India. “This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindubusinessline was involved in the publication of this release.”

Five Trends That Will Shape the Future of Obesity Care in India: Ajanta Pharma Shares Its Perspective on the Next Decade of Metabolic Health
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Sony Pictures Networks India FY26 profit rises 15.6% to ₹556 cr, revenue up 9%

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), earlier known as Culver Max Entertainment, has reported a 15.6 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to ₹556.1 crore in 2025-26, according to the RoC filing from the broadcast major. Its revenue from operations was up 9 per cent to ₹6,830.04 crore in FY26. Total consolidated income, which includes other income, was at ₹7,064.08 crore, up 9.36 per cent for the financial year ended on March 31, 2026, as against ₹6,459.43 crore a year ago. The company, which owns 28 channels in entertainment, sports, and infotainment, along with an OTT platform SonyLiv, had reported a net profit of ₹481.21 crore in FY25, and its revenue from operations for that year was at ₹6,261.16 crore. Total expenses of SPNI were also up 7.78 per cent to ₹6,311.47 crore in FY26 -- the first full year of its MD and CEO, Gaurav Banerjee. In FY26, SPNI's advertisement spend was up 24 per cent to ₹1,262.88 crore against ₹1,018.34 crore in FY25. According to industry experts, there is a complete turnaround in the company's performance, driven by advertising income, as it held the broadcast rights for several marquee cricket properties across the Indian subcontinent. SPNI has exclusive TV and digital rights for all Men’s and Women’s Asia Cups through 2031 and aired the Asia Cup 2025. Besides, KBC and Wheel of Fortune also helped SPNI, a company jointly owned by SPE Mauritius Holdings and SPE Mauritius Investments, achieve 9 per cent growth in advertising revenue in FY25, they said. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Sony Pictures Networks India FY26 profit rises 15.6% to ₹556 cr, revenue up 9%