Monday, 13 July 2026

UK Places Cloud Giants Under Financial Regulation

The UK government designated four cloud providers on July 13 — Microsoft Ireland Operations, Google Cloud EMEA, Amazon Web Services EMEA, and Oracle Corporation UK — as critical third parties to the financial sector. The Bank of England, the PRA, and the FCA will jointly oversee them. This is the first time technology providers have fallen under the direct jurisdiction of UK financial regulators, a clear signal about the systemic risk posed by cloud concentration. Bank of England

EU Orders Meta to Remove Infinite Scroll and Autoplay From Facebook and Instagram

The European Commission issued preliminary findings on July 10 that Meta is in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) through the addictive design of Facebook and Instagram. Targeted features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and hyper-personalized recommendation algorithms. The Commission demands these be disabled by default and that effective screen-time breaks be introduced. The potential fine: up to 6% of global annual revenue, or more than $12 billion. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen stated that “protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority.” Euronews

Starbucks Builds In-House AI Tools to Replace $400 Million in Microsoft and IBM Software

Starbucks is developing AI-assisted replacements for a Microsoft inventory management system and an IBM maintenance platform, targeting roughly $400 million in annual software savings, according to an internal presentation reported on July 9. The move signals a broader industry shift: AI-assisted development is making in-house solutions economically viable at a scale that was previously impractical. Starbucks had already wound down an automated inventory counting tool earlier in 2026, less than a year after rollout, after it produced inaccurate results. Bloomberg

Moncler Group Posts 12% Revenue Growth in Q1 2026, Raises Full-Year Targets

Moncler Group reported consolidated revenues of €880.6 million in Q1 2026, up 12% at constant exchange rates. Asia led regional growth: Moncler brand up 22%, Stone Island up 25%. The direct-to-consumer channel remained the primary driver, with Moncler up 14% and Stone Island up 17%. Following the strong first quarter, the group raised its 2026 full-year targets, reaffirming a strategy built around brand elevation, DTC expansion, and the dual-brand structure with Moncler and Stone Island. OuispeakFashion

Nike Ends Argentine Production as Manufacturer Dass Closes Its Last Local Plant

Brazilian footwear manufacturer Dass, which produces for Nike, Adidas, Umbro, and Asics, will permanently close its Eldorado factory in Argentina’s Misiones province. Production is set to end between July 17 and 24, with 150 workers receiving full severance. The Eldorado plant opened in 2007 and was once one of Misiones’ main industrial employers, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million pairs. The closure reflects a supply chain shift toward Brazilian production, with the Argentine market to be supplied from factories in Brazil. Buenos Aires Herald