Core Viewpoint - Meta Platforms has successfully navigated a significant legal challenge from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which posed a potential existential threat to the company by targeting its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp [2][5]. Group 1: Legal Outcome - The FTC lawsuit claimed that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp constituted anti-competitive practices, which could have forced the company to divest these critical platforms [3][5]. - The trial began on April 14, 2025, and the outcome was crucial for Meta's future, as losing the case would have had devastating implications for its social media empire [3][5]. Group 2: Importance of Instagram and WhatsApp - Instagram is projected to account for over 50% of Meta's U.S. advertising revenue by 2025, a significant increase from around 7% a decade ago [4]. - Instagram is estimated to generate nearly $250 per user in 2025, which is approximately 90% higher than TikTok and more than six times that of YouTube [4]. - WhatsApp currently generates around $2 billion in revenue but has a total addressable market estimated between $30 billion to $40 billion annually, indicating substantial growth potential [6].

Core Viewpoint - Rubis has been fined a total of €64,240,000 by the French Competition Authority for alleged anti-competitive practices in the fuel supply chain in Corsica, with the total penalties for all involved parties amounting to €187,490,000 [1] Group 1 - The French Competition Authority issued a decision on November 17, 2025, imposing sanctions on multiple entities for anti-competitive practices in the supply, storage, and distribution of fuels in Corsica, which allegedly occurred between 2016 and 2022 [1] - Rubis SCA has been fined €64,240,000, jointly and severally with its subsidiary Rubis Énergie, and an additional €430,000, jointly and severally with its former subsidiary Rubis Terminal [1] - Rubis expresses strong disagreement with the decision, claiming it does not accurately reflect the facts and denies the alleged practices [2] Group 2 - The company is committed to ensuring a reliable and competitive fuel supply for the Corsican market, benefiting consumers on the island [2] - Rubis is currently reviewing the Competition Authority's decision and plans to file an appeal before the Paris Court of Appeal [3]

Group 1 - The European Union is pausing its plans to fine Google over its AdTech practices due to concerns about potential repercussions on transatlantic trade relations [1][2][3] - The initial plan was for Google to receive a significant fine and an order to change its business model by September 1, but this has been delayed [2][4] - The EU is likely to impose a smaller fine than the previous 4.3 billion euros from 2018, reflecting a shift in approach under the new EU antitrust chief, Teresa Ribera [5] Group 2 - The European Commission has accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the online AdTech industry since 2014, alleging that it favored its own AdX ad exchange [6] - Google defends its practices by stating that serving both advertisers and publishers is standard in the industry, and that competitors operate similar AdTech businesses [7] - In the U.S., Google is also facing legal challenges, with a federal judge agreeing that the company unlawfully maintained monopolies in key areas of the online ad industry, with a trial for remedies scheduled soon [8]

Core Points - NKT A/S's Czech subsidiary, NKT s.r.o., has received a "Request Before the Issuing of a Decision" from the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic regarding an investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the Slovak cable market [1][2] - The investigation involves a local cable association and 11 cable manufacturers, including NKT s.r.o., with allegations of infringements of Slovak and EU competition rules [2] - NKT contests the findings and proposed fines from the Antimonopoly Office and plans to submit a reasoned defense, expecting a final decision within six to twelve months [3] - NKT s.r.o. is also under investigation by the Office for the Protection of Competition in the Czech Republic alongside five other cable manufacturers [4] - The company emphasizes its commitment to cooperate with authorities and uphold ethical business standards [4] - This announcement does not alter NKT's financial outlook for 2025 [5]