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Trump Threatens Trade Retaliation After EU Slaps Google With €2.95 Billion Fine
US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit back against the European Union after the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion for abusing its dominant position in the advertising technology market.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump denounced the fine as “very unfair” and “discriminatory,” vowing that his administration “will not allow these actions to stand.” He added that he would consider launching a Section 301 investigation under the Trade Act of 1974, a move that could pave the way for retaliatory tariffs or penalties against the EU. “I will be speaking to the European Union,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.
The European Commission said its probe found Google had “abused its power” by favouring its own advertising technology services, harming competitors, advertisers, and publishers. The case centred on Google’s AdX exchange and DFP platform, which match advertisers with website publishers seeking to sell digital ad space.
This is the fourth time since 2017 that Brussels has levied a multibillion-euro antitrust fine against Google, underscoring a long-running clash with the tech giant. Google has said it will appeal, calling the ruling “wrong.”
EU officials hinted that fines may not be enough to rein in Google’s dominance. Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera said the bloc may consider structural remedies, such as forcing Google to sell parts of its advertising technology business. “At this stage, it appears that the only way for Google to end its conflict of interest effectively is with a structural remedy,” she said.
The European Publishers Council, whose complaint triggered the investigation, welcomed the decision but argued the Commission should go further. “A fine will not fix Google’s abuse of its adtech,” said executive director Angela Mills Wade, urging regulators to order a breakup.
Some experts echoed that view. Cori Crider, senior fellow at the Future of Technology Institute, said Europe had “made an important stand for the rule of law” but warned that anything short of a breakup would allow Google to continue reshaping its practices without addressing the core issue. “Only a break-up will fix Google’s monopoly,” she said.
The fine adds to growing transatlantic friction over trade, tariffs, and technology regulation. While €2.95 billion is a significant penalty, analysts noted it is relatively small for Google, which reported €24 billion in revenue in the second quarter alone.
The ruling also comes just days after a US federal judge found Google guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. That case resulted in an order for changes to its search business but stopped short of forcing a sale of its Chrome browser.
With Google fighting battles on both sides of the Atlantic, the EU’s latest move is likely to fuel tensions between Brussels and Washington — and test Trump’s willingness to wield trade measures in defence of American tech giants.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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