Company news in brief

Google challenges record US$5 billion EU antitrust fineAlphabet unit Google) on Tuesday challenged a record 4.34-billion euro (US$5 billion) fine imposed by European Union antitrust regulators three months ago for using its popular Android mobile operating system to thwart rivals.“We have now filed our appeal of the EC’s Android decision at the General Court of the EU,” Google said in an email. It had previously said it would take the case to Europe’s second highest court in Luxembourg.The company referred to arguments put forward by chief executive Sundar Pichai on the day of the EU ruling in July, of which the main one is that Android has created more choice for consumers, not less.The European Commission in its July decision said Google had abused its market dominance since 2011. Android, used by device makers for free, is found on about 80% of the world’s smartphones.EU competition enforcers had said Google’s illegal practices included forcing manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and its Chrome browser together with its Google Play app store on their Android devices.-Nampa/ReutersWalmart may sell cannabis-based productsWalmart Inc’s Canadian unit said on Tuesday it is exploring the possibility of selling cannabis-based products, but has no immediate plans to get into the business.The company’s shares rose nearly 3% to US$97.48 in afternoon trading.Walmart is the first major retailer to show an interest in being a part of Canada’s burgeoning marijuana industry, as other big US companies, mainly in the alcohol and beverage industries, begin to consider entering the market for cannabis-infused products.Last month Coca-Cola Co said it was closely watching the marijuana drinks market for a possible entry, while Corona beer maker Constellation Brands has invested more than US$4 billion in cannabis producer Canopy Growth.“Walmart Canada has done some preliminary fact-finding on this issue, but we do not have plans to carry CBD products at this time,” Walmart spokeswoman Diane Medeiros told Reuters.Cannabidiol or CBD is the non-psychoactive chemical found in marijuana and does not cause intoxication.-Nampa/ReutersDaimler eyes joint venture with China's GeelyGerman vehicle manufacturer Daimler AG is in talks with China’s Geely Holding Group Co to set up a joint venture to offer ride-hailing and car-sharing services in China, Bloomberg reported, citing sources. “We have a constructive dialogue with our Chinese counterparts. I believe there is potential for both and there are more opportunities than risks. The situation is promising,” Daimler chief executive Dieter Zetsche said at the Paris Motor Show last week.-Nampa/ReutersWeChat rival wiped from Apple StoreBullet Message, the social media upstart touted as a challenger to Tencent’s ubiquitous WeChat, was removed from Apple’s China app store for potential content violations.Backed by niche smartphone designer Smartisan, the app created a sensation after garnering 5 million users within two weeks of its August launch, drawing praise for its clean design in contrast with WeChat’s increasingly crowded shopfront. But the fledgling app, which briefly topped its larger rival in downloads from Apple’s local iOS store, was no longer available as of Tuesday afternoon.Searches only turned up unrelated results.“Bullet Message is temporarily removed from the Apple Store because news content provided by our partner drew complaints of possible image copyright issues,” a Smartisan representative said in a message in response to Bloomberg inquiries.“We are verifying the details with our partner and will notify the public once downloads resume.”WeChat has come to rule China’s smartphone world by becoming a one-stop platform with everything from video-chatting to payments and food delivery. But Bullet won fans by focusing on a few things it did well, including a voice-to-text option that its operator claims delivers real-time Mandarin transcriptions with an accuracy rate of 97%.-Fin24Boeing surprises with jump in September plane deliveriesBoeing Co delivered 61 of its best-selling 737 single-aisle aircraft in September, unexpectedly surging past numbers for August and suggesting manufacturing problems at suppliers may be easing.The news briefly pulled Boeing shares back into positive territory in afternoon trading, on a day when industrial stocks were being weighed down by concerns over trade and China’s growth.Boeing’s production has been hit by delays at suppliers such as fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystems Inc and GE joint venture CFM International, which makes engines for the 737s, resulting in deliveries of just 29 planes in July.The bounce to 48 planes in August offered hope that the company could still make good on its target to deliver 50 more airplanes overall in 2018 than last year’s record 763.Chief executive officer Dennis Muilenburg said last month only that September deliveries of the 737 narrowbody jetliners would be as good as August.-Nampa/Reuters

Company news in brief

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Republikein 2026-08-27

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Company news in brief

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