Author: Doug McMillon
Doug McMillon
Trade corridors, nearshoring, and the shifting economic weight between North and South America are Doug's territory. He grew up in Arkansas and spent his early career in supply chain consulting before switching to journalism, a background that shows in how deeply he digs into logistics stories most outlets skim past. He's covered manufacturing shifts from Mexico to Brazil and back. Weekends usually find him restoring an old pickup truck he's been "almost finished with" for two years.
BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, Sept 10 — As Brazil heads toward its October 4 presidential election, Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca has emerged as an increasingly influential figure in the political struggle surrounding President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro. Thousands of supporters gathered in Sao Paulo on Monday for a rally backing Bolsonaro, but a giant balloon portraying Mendonca drew unusual attention. The justice was not present at the event, yet his image reflected his growing popularity among Brazil’s political right. The rally’s emcee invoked Mendonca during the event, calling on the crowd to pray the Lord’s…
GUAYAQUIL/QUITO, Ecuador [Business Emerge]: A surge in gang warfare across Ecuador is forcing hundreds of thousands of people to abandon their homes, as criminal groups tighten their grip on neighborhoods through killings, extortion, threats and forced recruitment. In Guayaquil’s Nueva Prosperina district, one 66-year-old grandmother said she finally decided to leave after bullets began striking the rooftops of the housing development where she had lived for almost two decades. She feared for her daughter, who travels to work by motorcycle, and for her teenage grandson, who she worried could be pressured into joining a criminal group. Armed factions, she said,…
AMSTERDAM (Europe Tech Desk): A major cybercrime campaign has placed dozens of multinational companies under scrutiny after the Cl0p hacking group claimed it had stolen large amounts of data from nearly 50 organizations across multiple industries. Among the companies listed by the group are Shell, Philips, GE and Fiserv. The alleged victims span several countries, although the extent of the compromise and the nature of any stolen information have not been independently verified. Shell acknowledged it is investigating what it described as a possible cybersecurity incident. “We are working with our security teams and relevant experts to investigate the situation,”…
PARIS (BE Tech Desk): France’s Finance Ministry has confirmed that a cyberattack targeting the country’s tax administration resulted in taxpayer information being accessed and extracted, with authorities now working to determine the full extent of the incident. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said a “malicious actor” claimed to have infiltrated the General Direction of Public Finances in late June. An official investigation subsequently verified that unauthorized access had occurred and that taxpayer data had been viewed and removed from the agency’s systems. Officials said investigators are still assessing exactly what categories of information were compromised and how…
SHANGHAI (Tech Desk): Apple has developed a large language model designed specifically for the Chinese market with support from Alibaba Group, according to people familiar with the matter, signaling a strategic shift in how the company plans to deliver artificial intelligence features in the world’s largest smartphone market. The move marks a departure from Apple’s earlier approach of relying primarily on AI models developed by domestic Chinese companies for generative AI capabilities on devices sold in China. Instead, the company has reportedly trained its own model while collaborating with Alibaba during the development process. The development comes as Apple prepares…
SEOUL (Business Emerge): U.S. authorities have cleared Samsung and SK Hynix to receive American chipmaking tools at their manufacturing sites in China during 2026 under a newly applied annual licensing framework. The clearance enables the two South Korean semiconductor producers to continue importing specific equipment that falls under export controls after the expiry of earlier exemptions. The approval applies to facilities operated by Samsung and SK Hynix in China and covers shipments scheduled for the 2026 calendar year. The decision follows changes to export licensing procedures that require company specific approvals for certain technology transfers involving China. The two companies…
ROME (Business Emerge): The Italian competition authority announced a financial penalty against Apple after concluding a review of how privacy consent rules were applied within the company’s mobile application marketplace. The decision addresses the handling of data permissions involving third-party applications distributed through Apple’s platform. The authority stated that the decision applies to Apple and two related business units operating within the mobile application ecosystem. The case focused on the structure and implementation of consent mechanisms required for developers offering apps through the Apple App Store. The review examined practices introduced from April 2021 and assessed their effect on third-party…
SAN FRANCISCO/STOCKHOLM (Business Emerge): Companies across multiple industries are continuing to integrate generative AI tools into products and internal operations, even as many acknowledge that the technology has yet to deliver consistent financial gains. Firms report that early deployments often require extended testing, redesign, and human oversight before they can function as intended. The adoption spans consumer applications, industrial services, finance, transportation, and customer support. In several cases, companies have introduced AI features only after prolonged adjustment periods to correct accuracy, tone, or reliability issues. Executives say these challenges have prompted revisions to rollout schedules and investment plans. Recent executive…
PARIS (Business Emerge/Europe): A cyber incident affecting the French Interior Ministry’s internal email network was confirmed this week, prompting a formal inquiry and the deployment of additional security protocols across the system. Officials stated that the intrusion was identified during routine monitoring, and preliminary checks showed that certain files stored on the ministry’s servers were accessed without authorization. The ministry said the assessment began earlier this week after security teams flagged unusual activity. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez informed a national broadcaster that the breach allowed the intruder to view multiple internal documents. He noted that initial inspections did not show…
NETHERLANDS (Business Emerge Report): A recent academic study has found that a widely used security step designed to limit fake online accounts can be sidestepped at very low cost, raising concerns about the scale at which fraudulent profiles can be created on major digital platforms. The review, carried out by researchers at the University of Cambridge and released this week, examined how temporary phone numbers available through online vendors are being used to activate new accounts on global social media services. The team analysed data over a twelve month period to understand pricing patterns and availability across countries. According to…
Stay updated on the latest startup news, funding trends, industry updates, and finance insights. Your go-to source for all things business. Empower your success with our comprehensive coverage.