Business
Coverage from the Business desk.
Google Wins Spirit Airlines Data in Bankruptcy Sale for $10 Million
Google won a bankruptcy auction for Spirit Airlines' business data and software code for $10 million, and plans to use the assets to improve its AI models and products.
Tapestry quarterly sales rise 8.9% as Coach demand offsets Kate Spade weakness
Tapestry Inc reported an 8.9% rise in quarterly sales, boosted by resilient demand for Coach handbags, though weakness at Kate Spade tempered its annual revenue outlook.
Air Freight Costs Surge, But Brands Absorb the Hit for Faster Inventory
Soaring air freight rates are prompting some retailers to pay a premium for faster shipping when supply chain disruptions threaten stock levels. Capri and Figs are among the brands taking on the extra cost to avoid inventory shortfalls.
The Hari Hotels Join IHG’s Vignette Collection Ahead of Singapore Debut
The Hari London, Hong Kong and Singapore hotels are joining IHG's Vignette Collection later this year, preserving the brand's independent character while leveraging the hotel group's global network and loyalty program.
Tiffany vs. Alffany: The Unlikely Trademark Clash in China
Tiffany & Co. and Chinese brand Alffany are locked in a trademark fight stretching back years, with the latest case reaching the Beijing High People's Court on July 9.
WordPress.com launches free student plan to attract young web creators
Automattic unveiled WordPress.com Education, a free classroom suite that gives students their own domains, plugin support and professional website-building tools for the first year.
Nvidia to Invest $1.5B in SoftBank-OpenAI Data Center Developer
Nvidia will invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy, a data center developer backed by SoftBank and OpenAI, securing its role as sole compute supplier for OpenAI's Ports-Pike facility near Cincinnati, Ohio.
Airbnb Quietly Rebuilds Marketing Engine It Once Dismantled
SEC filings show Airbnb has spent four years reversing the pandemic-era marketing cuts that made it famous, even as it maintains its 90% organic traffic claim.
AG1 broadens portfolio with gummies, canned drinks and more as CEO Kat Cole plots rapid expansion
AG1 is moving beyond its signature greens powder with new product launches and wider retail distribution, as CEO Kat Cole targets new customers through multiple formats and a 'good, better, best' strategy.
Zuckerberg's AI Vision Faces Widespread Skepticism
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word essay envisioning an AI-powered future has drawn criticism, with observers citing his company's social media track record as a reason for doubt.
Anthropic CEO calls AI backlash a 'crisis of trust'
Dario Amodei rejected claims that his warnings about AI risks have fueled public backlash, arguing the real issue is a crisis of trust.
Archer Acquires Former Rival Wisk Aero in Boeing Deal
Archer Aviation has acquired Wisk Aero, its former rival, as part of a transaction with Boeing that also includes two other subsidiaries. Boeing now holds a 16.5% ownership stake in Archer.
SpongeBob's Background Fish Become Unlikely Stars in Shanghai Exhibition
A new Shanghai exhibition turns SpongeBob's overlooked background fish into icons of everyday burnout, tapping into China's 'ugly-cute' aesthetic.
Alix Earle Takes Stake in Supplement Brand Cymbiotika
TikTok star Alix Earle has invested in liposomal supplement brand Cymbiotika, joining a roster of celebrity backers that includes Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber. The investment amount was not disclosed.
Cosmoprof North America 2023: International Manufacturers and OEM Model Dominate
The 2023 Cosmoprof North America trade show in Las Vegas featured over 1,000 exhibitors, with a notable surge in international contract manufacturers and the rise of low-minimum OEM catalog products.
Sephora denies own-store launch in Israel, will sell via local retailer
Sephora, the LVMH-owned beauty retailer, said Wednesday it has no plans to open its own stores in Israel, pushing back on media reports of an imminent first-store debut. Instead, the company will distribute its products through an Israeli retailer.
Woman joins lawsuit alleging Grok turned childhood photo into explicit images
A woman known as Jane Doe 4 has joined a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s xAI, alleging her stepfather used the Grok chatbot to create more than 7,000 explicit images from a childhood photo. The suit, filed by three Tennessee teens, accuses the company of failing to prevent the AI tool from generating images of minors.
Airbnb-CarTrawler Car Rental Partnership Takes Shape a Month In
A month after launching in five markets, Airbnb's car-rental tie-up with Ireland-based CarTrawler is operating via a third-party platform, a source says.
How Private Equity Helped Tubby Todd Move From DTC to Target
Tubby Todd co-founder Andrea Faulkner Williams discusses the baby care brand's decision to sell a majority stake to NexPhase Capital and how the funding fueled its expansion from direct-to-consumer to Target shelves.
Anthropic details how Claude's text watermarking will work
Anthropic has published a blog post explaining how it will watermark text generated by its Claude chatbot, a move tied to the EU AI Act's Transparency Code. The company says the watermark is invisible to readers but detectable with a key and does not affect output quality.
Harding+ brings three K-beauty brands to European cruise ships
Harding+ is adding Medicube, Biodance and Thank You Farmer to its onboard skincare offer across European ships, starting this month. The products are merchandised around a five-step beauty routine to meet growing demand for ingredient-led skincare.
'The Yin-Yang Errands' Turns Hell Into a Workplace
A tabletop game blends Chinese folklore with office bureaucracy, sending players through underworld departments with quotas, salaries and ghost-bribing money. The concept is striking a chord with players who see their own 9-to-5 grind in the afterlife.
Metro Retail First-Half Profit Jumps 45% on Store Expansion and Margin Gains
Source signal: Its retail network expanded to 84 stores.
Gregor Roy Chowdhury on the Long Revival of Transylvania's Zabola Estate
In a conversation about Zabola Estate, Gregor Roy Chowdhury recounts how the centuries-old Mikes family property in Szekler Transylvania was carefully restored after decades of nationalization under communism.
Retail Execs Warn Brand Collaborations Can Miss the Mark
At eTail Boston, executives from UrbanStems, H&M, Chobani and Teleties discussed how partnerships must align with target audiences to drive real growth, rather than just generate buzz.
Saudi Arabia's Almosafer Targets Year-End IPO Despite War Disruption
Almosafer, Saudi Arabia's largest travel and tourism company, is on track to list on the kingdom's stock exchange before the end of 2026, even as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts travel. The company is betting on domestic demand from Makkah, the Red Sea, and Qiddiya to weather the conflict.
PayPal Reportedly in Renewed Sale Talks with Stripe and Advent
PayPal is reportedly in renewed sale negotiations with Stripe and private equity firm Advent, potentially reaching a deal in the coming weeks as CEO Enrique Lores pushes a turnaround plan.
Omora Beauty Lab Joins Sephora Accelerate 2026 Cohort
Source signal: 2026 Sephora Accelerate Brand Omora Beauty Lab Makes Prestige Makeup For Pimple-Prone Skin
Twitch Defaults Creators Into Amazon AI Training
Twitch will automatically use creators’ livestreams to train Amazon’s generative AI models unless they opt out, a policy that has drawn sharp criticism from the platform’s community.
Ulta Beauty Enters Scalp-Care With Premium Brand Nutrire
Ulta Beauty is adding Chicago-based scalp-care brand Nutrire to its assortment, with $68 serums debuting online Monday and reaching 250 stores on August 23.
Northrop robotic spacecraft aims to extend satellite lifespans
A Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle has detached from an Optus satellite after more than a year of service, paving the way for a new robotic mechanic to attach a fresh thruster in 2027.
Fermi Taps Lee McIntire as CEO to Lead Project Matador Buildout
Fermi has appointed board member Lee McIntire as CEO, filling the vacancy left by ousted co-founder Toby Neugebauer. The former TerraPower and CH2M Hill chief will oversee construction of the company's Amarillo AI campus.
Eos and Refinery29 Launch 'Nose Dive' Podcast on Fragrance Culture
Eos and Refinery29 are entering the audio world with 'Nose Dive,' a five-part podcast series exploring fragrance through a cultural lens, hosted by perfumer Asia Grant.
Writer launches Palmyra X6 AI model and revamped harness to cut token costs
Writer has introduced Palmyra X6, a flagship AI model built on Z.ai's open-source GLM-5.2, along with upgraded agentic harness infrastructure. The company says the combination could reduce customer costs by up to 50% for basic tasks.
Deau Skin Aims to Move US Skincare Consumers Beyond K-Beauty with Japanese Philosophy
Deau Skin, a Japanese-inspired skincare brand founded by Hina Mian, has launched direct-to-consumer with four products priced from $55 to $120, betting that American consumers are ready for a skincare approach centered on quality over novelty.
Apple Sends Spyware Threat Notifications to iPhone Users in 110 Countries
Apple sent a fresh round of lock-screen push notifications to iPhone owners in 110 countries, warning of possible mercenary spyware attacks. The company's alerts now reach users in more than 150 countries overall.
Flock makes Audit Assistance mandatory for police customers but offers few details
Surveillance technology company Flock is requiring all law enforcement customers to enable its Audit Assistance tool by the end of the year, saying it has already helped identify abuse. But the company has not fully explained how the tool works.
Philippine retail market projected to hit $113.31b by 2035
The Philippine retail market is expected to expand from $79.23b in 2025 to $113.31b by 2035, driven by e-commerce, urbanization, and rising consumer spending.
Target Unveils Proxima Digital-Twin Platform to Boost Inventory Availability
Source signal: Target builds digital-twin platform to improve inventory availability
China’s Gen Z Are Taking Up Quilting, Giving Traditional Pīnbù a Modern Twist
Young Chinese are turning to the ancient craft of pīnbù, or patchwork, as a mindful escape and a form of 'mechanical healing,' fueling a handicraft economy worth an estimated 120 billion yuan.
Anthropologie expands beauty assortment with new in-store shops
Anthropologie is deepening its beauty business, adding more products and rolling out shop-in-shops as demand for the category grows across its customer base.
Walmart-Backed Gaming Site Restart.run Lays Off Entire Editorial Team
Restart.run, a gaming news outlet launched in December 2024 with Walmart funding, has laid off its entire editorial team, according to the publication's editor-in-chief.
VI Peel Hits 20 Million Treatments Without Outside Capital
Vitality Institute's skin-tone-inclusive VI Peel has surpassed 20 million treatments while remaining family-owned and funded by profitable growth. CEO Marya Khalil-Otto explains the company's focus on practitioner education.
The Look Company Brings Whole-Space Branding to Airports and Public Venues
Visual engagement specialist The Look Company is extending its integrated branding approach into airports and high-traffic public spaces, using graphics, wayfinding, lighting and custom fabrication to create cohesive passenger environments.
Sandbar CEO: Voice is key to winning in AI wearables
Sandbar, the startup behind the Stream voice ring, has raised $36 million and argues that voice-controlled wearables that keep users in charge will succeed where earlier AI notetakers failed.
Harrods returns to profit but remains cautious about future
Harrods returned to profit for the year to late January, posting a pre-tax profit of £84.9 million after a loss the previous year, but the luxury retailer remains cautious about trading conditions.
Automattic’s AI-powered contact manager Mesh arrives on Android
Automattic’s personal CRM and contacts app Mesh is now available on Android, letting users track relationships and schedule reminders across devices.
Jo Malone London Debuts Fortnite Game for Sea Salt & Bergamot Launch
Jo Malone London is entering gaming for the first time with a custom Fortnite experience to support the global debut of its Sea Salt & Bergamot cologne, aiming to connect with younger consumers.
On misses quarterly sales estimates as consumer pullback and tariff costs weigh
Swiss sportswear maker On reported second-quarter net sales below Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, citing a tougher consumer environment and higher costs from US tariffs.
Missile Strike Ruins Kyiv Eveningwear Startup’s New Collection
Cili Nochi, an independent eveningwear label in Kyiv, lost its entire High Summer collection when a Russian missile hit a logistics facility near Kyiv in July, forcing the brand to start over.
Accel closes oversubscribed $550M India fund in weeks
Accel has closed a new $550 million India-focused fund, oversubscribed and raised less than two years after its previous $650 million vehicle.
Phoebe Gates' Startup Phia Knew About Cookie Stuffing for Months, Report Says
New reporting suggests Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni were aware of the shopping startup's cookie stuffing practice as early as December, contradicting earlier claims.
Online Now Leads Prestige Skin Care as U.S. Beauty Sales Climb
Source signal: How Beauty Performed During the First Half of 2026
Marshall Stages Its Largest Live Music and Culture Event in Chengdu
The six-day Keep Live Music Alive festival, hosted with Tmall, brought together Chinese rock acts, independent venues and Marshall archive showcases.
Best Buy bets on RGB LED TVs to spark upgrade cycle
Best Buy is making a major push this year to sell shoppers on a new generation of RGB LED TVs, targeting consumers who bought sets during the 2020 boom. The retailer hopes the improved picture quality will convince them to upgrade.
Goodwipes Co-Founder on Quirky Collaborations and Why Fewer Is Better
Goodwipes co-founder Sam Nebel shares the thinking behind the brand's unconventional partnerships with Liquid Death, Olipop and Hallie Batchelder, and explains why the company caps itself at about three collaborations a year.
TikTok Shop Wins Over High-Ticket Home and Lifestyle Brands
TikTok Shop is increasingly attracting higher-priced home and lifestyle brands as consumer trust and logistics improve, signaling a shift from impulse buys to larger purchases.
Jeff Bezos Reportedly Eyes First Sports Team Stake With Liverpool FC
Jeff Bezos is reportedly close to acquiring at least a 30% stake in Liverpool Football Club at a £1.35 billion valuation, marking his first sports investment. The deal would place the billionaire among a growing group of American investors in U.K. soccer teams.
Flash-Era Mini-Game Portals Shaped Chinese Millennials' Summer Holidays
Before smartphones, Chinese millennials spent school breaks on browser-based mini-game sites like 4399 and 7K7K, which became a shared digital playground for a generation.
Walmart Connect Introduces Negative Keywords for Sponsored Products
Walmart's advertising arm now lets brands block their ads from certain search terms, a shift aimed at giving marketers more control over budget efficiency.
Chinese Indie Horror Games Lean Into Folklore Ahead of Ghost Festival
A new wave of Chinese indie horror titles is trading cheap jump scares for deep-rooted folklore and atmospheric storytelling, with five games spotlighted just ahead of Hungry Ghost Festival.
Avolta Extends Lead in Global Travel Retail Rankings for Third Year
Avolta has retained the top spot in an annual ranking of the world’s largest travel retailers, based on 2025 turnover. The group also leads in food and beverage and the combined retail and F&B table.
Harvey Nichols warns of administration risk without rescue deal
Harvey Nichols has reported a sharply wider annual loss, driven largely by an impairment of intracompany loans, and warned it faces collapse if a rescue deal is not secured.
Gen Z Investors Turn Xiaohongshu Into Wishing Well for Unitree Robotics IPO
Unitree Robotics has become the world’s first listed humanoid robot company with its STAR Market IPO, igniting a social media frenzy among young Chinese investors.
Adidas Rebrands China Outdoor Line as Shanchuanli
Adidas has renamed its outdoor line in China as Shanchuanli, aiming to blend technical outdoor credibility with everyday urban style through a new campaign film and broader lifestyle positioning.
Google Play Adds Venmo as a Payment Option
Source signal: Google Play adds Venmo as a payment option
Great Britain & Ireland Triumph at Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup 2026
Great Britain & Ireland claimed victory at the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot, with Dubai Duty Free hosting guests and introducing Team Hong Kong to the revamped lineup.
Hong Kong Luxury Home Sale Tops US$19m as Trophy Demand Persists
A detached house at One Stanley in southern Hong Kong sold for HK$151.08 million, underscoring resilient demand for trophy homes despite a broader property slowdown.
Discovered Materials raises $9M to speed up microchip material discovery with AI
The startup has closed a $9 million seed round to deploy AI agents on a high-volume hunt for new materials that could make integrated circuits more efficient and cooler-running.
P&G's $3.8B Thorne Deal Caps Wellness M&A Wave
Procter & Gamble's $3.8 billion acquisition of supplement brand Thorne underscores a broader push by consumer goods giants to snap up science-backed wellness labels as shopper priorities shift toward longevity and functional health.
Beauty Historian Erin Parsons Debuts Makeup Archive Online
Beauty historian Erin Parsons has launched The Makeup Archive, an online museum featuring more than 1,500 rare and vintage beauty products, including Marilyn Monroe's Max Factor lipstick.
Frozen Yogurt Makes a Comeback as Lines, Wellness Trends Drive Second Act
Frozen yogurt is back in vogue, with New York City shops drawing 30-minute lines and $10 cups. Established chains like 16 Handles report double-digit growth as wellness and social media fuel the resurgence.
McDonald's Sells Nearly Half Its Hong Kong Shops in Slumping Market
McDonald's has sold 11 of its 23 self-owned Hong Kong restaurants for more than HK$900 million, a year after putting the portfolio on the market even as the city's retail property sector struggles.
Frankfurt T3 Helps Fraport Retail Recover in Q2 Despite Traffic Dip
Fraport's retail revenues per passenger reached €3.24 in the first half, close to last year's level, as a stronger Q2 driven by the new Terminal 3 offset a weak Q1.
From Red-Light District to AI Powerhouse: King's Cross Emerges as Global Tech Hub
Once among London's seamiest neighborhoods, King's Cross has become one of the world's most sought-after AI hubs, drawing startups and tech giants alike.
Jill Lepore warns tech leaders are misreading science fiction and eroding democracy
In a new book and podcast interview, the Harvard historian argues that Silicon Valley's embrace of 'government by machines' threatens democratic institutions.
Chinese Brands Like Pop Mart Win US Shoppers Despite Geopolitical Friction
Chinese consumer brands such as Pop Mart are gaining traction with American shoppers by cultivating a global image and targeting niche markets.
Canary Islands Project Helps Mauritanian Women Gain Fashion Skills
A fashion show in Nouakchott marked the first phase of a Canary Islands Government initiative to create employment opportunities for Mauritanian women through fashion skills training, featuring ten local brands and 40 participants.
Google overhauls hacking group naming system, sheds APT numbers
Google has introduced a new way of naming hacking groups, replacing obscure APT numbers with memorable first names and a second word that signals the group’s country of origin.
U.S. pays $3.93B to scrap offshore wind leases as RWE takes $1.2B deal
The Trump administration has spent nearly $4 billion to cancel 12 offshore wind leases, with the latest agreement paying German utility RWE $1.2 billion to abandon projects off California, Louisiana and New York.