Baidu Inc is expanding beyond its traditional search business by forming connections with US tech giants Apple and Tesla, focusing on AI and autonomous driving technologies.
Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall platforms are teaming up with Douyin to attract users for the Chinese shopping festival. AI is also being used to boost e-commerce.
Britain's Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) found that Visa and Mastercard have increased fees on retailers without improving service quality. Over the past five years, fees rose by over 30%, adding over £250 million to UK business costs. Lawmakers are calling for more stringent oversight as 95% of U.K. card transactions use Visa or Mastercard, leaving businesses with little choice but to absorb the costs.
Beyond Meat faces challenges as Carl's Jr. and Del Taco reportedly drop its plant-based beef due to declining sales. Most of Carl's Jr.'s 1,000+ locations stopped offering the Beyond Burger, initially launched in 2019. Del Taco also ceased Beyond Meat offerings in nearly 600 locations. Despite this, Beyond Meat is hopeful, banking on new product developments and pricing strategies to regain consumer interest.