logo
Exclusive: Meta says EU antitrust regulators are discriminating against its business model

Exclusive: Meta says EU antitrust regulators are discriminating against its business model

Reuters20 hours ago

BRUSSELS, June 27 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab on Friday criticised EU antitrust regulators for moving the goalpost as the U.S. company seeks to comply with an order targeting its pay-or-consent business model.
The tech giant said the European Commission had discriminated against its business model and that it had nevertheless engaged constructively in discussions and introduced extensive changes.
"We are confident that the range of choices we offer people in the EU doesn't just comply with what the EU's rules require - it goes well beyond them," a Meta spokesperson said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Major provider offering FREE smartwatch with Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – plans from £18p/m
Major provider offering FREE smartwatch with Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – plans from £18p/m

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Major provider offering FREE smartwatch with Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – plans from £18p/m

Sky Mobile has unveiled an exciting deal that's caught my eye. You can now get the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE with plans starting from just £18 per month, complete with a free Galaxy Watch7 worth £289. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, 50GB, £28/month (Claim free Galaxy Watch7 worth £289) BUY FROM SKY If you're in the market for a new phone, this is a seriously good way to get more for your money. Sky Mobile is no stranger to cutting prices on its handset plans, but this offer throws in some free tech too. The standout comes on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, with prices starting from just £18 a month (was £23), and no upfront cost. There's also half-price data on selected plans, and my top pick gets you a solid 50GB for £10 a month instead of £20. On top of that, Sky's throwing in a free Galaxy Watch7 worth £289, which makes this one of the best value deals we've seen from the provider in a while. It's not just about the price either, Sky runs on O2's network, so you're getting decent coverage and reliability. The Galaxy S24 FE itself is a great all-rounder if you want something that doesn't break the bank but still delivers on features. I haven't had hands-on time with it yet, but on paper, it's a strong Android handset for years to come. You get a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for watching videos or gaming on the go. There's the same Exynos 2400 chip you'll find in Samsung's pricier models, paired with 8GB of RAM, so it'll easily handle day-to-day tasks and multitasking. You're also getting a triple camera setup on the back, something any photography lover will appreciate. It includes a 50MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide, and 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, ideal for everything from quick snaps to holiday pics. Battery life is decent too, with a 4,500mAh battery that's larger than the latest handset coming off the Apple production line. If your contract's nearly up or you're thinking of switching, this one's definitely worth a look. Best Sky Mobile deals Sky Mobile has plenty of top-brand handsets up for grabs right now. If you're happy with your current phone and want something low-fuss, check out the best SIM-only deals we've found from all major providers. We've also rounded up the best Sky deals out there right now to make life a bit easier.

Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants
Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants

The Sun

time4 hours ago

  • The Sun

Major US chain with 45 branches FINALLY adds iconic menu item to UK restaurants

A MAJOR US chain with 45 branches has finally added an iconic menu item to UK restaurants. Wendy's is bringing its Biggie Bag to the UK, giving customers a chance to try what Americans have dubbed the "best deal in fast food". 1 The meal deal gives customers a chance to get a small cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, small fries and drink for £5. Diners can upgrade for an extra £2.99 to get their hands on one of the chain's "premium" burgers such as a Wendy's Spicy Chicken or Wendy's Single. The more pricey version also comes with chicken nuggets, a small drink and chips. Wendy's £5 bargain allows customers to save around £1.77 The price of a small drink is around £1.49 at the chain, while the cost of a small burger is £2.49 and a four piece nugget is £2.79 and fries costs £1.59. If you bought all the items separately it would cost £8.36, but be aware prices may vary from store to store. Meanwhile, customers who upgrade to the £7.99 Biggie Bag can save £3.17. The offer has been a long standing feature in Wendy's restaurants in the US, with customers saying they "love it". One loyal fan said: "I upgrade to a large so my toddler can share and have the nuggets and some burger. So much better than McDonald's." While another customer said: "The Biggie bag is absolutely delicious I get it every time I go to Wendy's." If you are keen to try it out for yourself you will need to be quick as the offer will only be available on UK menus until August 1. You can find your nearest Wendy's by visiting, And that is not all the fast-food chain has also launched two new nugget flavours . It's new spicy nuggets are drenched in either Frank's RedHot Buffalo Sauce or Cattleman's Honey BBQ Sauce. The menu item will available to try from July 1. MORE FAST FOOD NEWS And Wendy's is not the only fast-food chain to shake things up recently. Slim Chickens has opened four new sites across the UK this month including sites in Swansea, Ealing, Walton and Birmingham. Another four Slim Chickens restaurants are set to open soon in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Reading, along with an undisclosed location in West London. The final two sites, also undisclosed, will complete the chain's 16 new openings in 2025. Elsewhere, Carls Jnr will be opening new sites in Southampton, Bristol, Manchester, York and Leeds. The Swansea restaurant is set to open in late August, while the chain is likely to land in Southampton and Manchester around October. No dates have been confirmed yet for the remaining restaurants. How to save money eating out THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how: Discount codes - Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order. Tastecard - This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year. Loyalty schemes - Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando's where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter. Voucher schemes - Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through then you'll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You'll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday. Student discounts - If you're in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It's always worth asking before you place your order.

Berlin to simplify rules in bid to speed up defence surge, draft law says
Berlin to simplify rules in bid to speed up defence surge, draft law says

Reuters

time6 hours ago

  • Reuters

Berlin to simplify rules in bid to speed up defence surge, draft law says

BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) - The German government seeks to speed up defence procurement by simplifying legal procedures, fostering European cooperation and facilitating orders to start-ups to make its military combat-ready, according to a draft law seen by Reuters late on Friday. The speedy surge of the German military's capabilities "must not fail due to overly complex procurement procedures or lengthy authorisation processes", the document said, while warning of signs that Moscow's war objectives reach beyond Ukraine. "The time factor is crucial." At a NATO summit in The Hague, leaders on Wednesday agreed to hike the alliance's defence spending target to 5% of national GDP, with 3.5% dedicated to core defence and 1.5% to related security issues. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government on Tuesday approved a budget framework which is expected to see Berlin's total military spending rise from 95 billion euros in 2025 to 162 billion euros in 2029, equalling 3.5% of GDP. The new defence procurement law is part of efforts to speed up military purchases that in the past have been plagued by lengthy delays, project failures and cost overshoots. The draft law determines that all procurement that contributes to Europe and NATO's military readiness inherently touches upon vital national security, which constitutes a basis to invoke an exemption under European public procurement law. That would amplify a trend that Berlin has been following for some time by more often making use of a national security clause under EU law to prioritize domestic procurement, while also seeking to minimize delays caused by legal challenges. The hurdles for cash-strapped start-ups and innovative companies to join competitions are to be lowered by enabling advance payment to these firms, according to the draft, dated June 25. The paper also makes provisions for a future simplification of European defence procurement rules, something now under discussion at the EU level, by stating that the German law should not be tougher than European law but facilitate joint European defence procurement across the board. The law will entitle contracting entities to limit tenders to bidders inside the European Union or the European Economic Area, and to determine that a certain share of the contracted goods or services must originate in the EU, according to the document. The draft law does not, however, attempt to change the rule that all defence purchases with a volume of 25 million euros or more must be approved by parliament, a requirement seen by many experts as a major hurdle against speeding up procurement. At the start of June, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany would need up to 60,000 additional troops under the new NATO targets for weapons and personnel, effectively expanding the military to some 260,000 troops. The Bundeswehr has not yet met a target of 203,000 troops set in 2018, and it is currently short-staffed by some 20,000 regular troops, according to defence ministry data.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store