US regulator places Google Payment under supervision, company sues

The regulator's step and the subsequent lawsuit marked a government tussle with a Silicon Valley behemoth in the final weeks of President Joe Biden's administration. The regulator's move could be reversed after President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

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AI triggers boom in flexi-work options for technology professionals

Skilled tech professionals, particularly in AI, are increasingly choosing freelance work, commanding high hourly rates on platforms like Upwork and Appen. Indians are prominent, offering competitive rates while demand for AI skills like data annotation and training surges. This shift allows workers flexibility and higher earnings compared to traditional employment.

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Walmart, Amazon holiday spending rise as Target, Best Buy stumble, data shows

Walmart, Shein, and Temu achieved record-breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, outperforming struggling retailers like Target and Best Buy. Amazon also saw strong growth, driven by popular items like Fire TVs and Shark vacuums. Temu and Shein experienced double-digit percentage growth, while Best Buy faced sales declines despite investor optimism.

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Crypto chaos: WazirX hack leaves investors in financial turmoil

A July 18 hack on cryptocurrency exchange WazirX wiped out $235 million, affecting 15 million investors. Victims face financial ruin, anxiety, and legal uncertainty as stolen funds are laundered. WazirX pledged partial repayment but set a controversial cut-off date, enraging investors amid rising crypto values. Ownership disputes, transparency issues, and legal grey areas exacerbate challenges for affected users seeking recourse.

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Jewellery retailer Bluestone plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore in fresh capital

Bluestone’s board has approved an IPO to raise Rs 1,000 crore, with filing expected soon. Proceeds will fund offline store expansion. Founded in 2011, it reported Rs 1,265.8 crore revenue in FY24 and aims to grow its retail footprint to 400 stores.

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Meta pushes zero-carbon energy strategy with solar deal

Meta inked deals with Invenergy for 760 megawatts of solar power across four US states, boosting its renewable energy portfolio to over 1 gigawatt. This move supports Meta's goal of 100% renewable energy operations, fueled by increasing energy demands from AI adoption. The solar facilities are expected to be operational between 2024 and 2027.

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Swiggy’s Instamart pushes for higher average order value; analysts say metric's growth key to improve profitability

Swiggy Instamart's average order value (AOV) of Rs 499 has come in low compared to its competitors like Blinkit and Zepto. Although the company has indicated that its AOV is in an upward path, analysts have emphasised the need for the quick commerce platform to push this metric to sustain revenue momentum and maximise profitability.

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