Dutch state secretary Mona Keijzer proposes updated competition rules targeting tech giants like Amazon, Facebook, and Google, emphasizing data sharing and transparency to prevent market dominance. The proposal includes revising merger legislation to consider transaction value and data significance, aiming to curb digital platforms from acquiring potential rivals. Keijzer seeks support from EU counterparts, highlighting the urgency of these measures for the incoming European Commission.

The European Commission is grappling with unfair competition from China, seeking solutions that do not involve altering merger laws. While defending current laws, the commission's alternative proposal for stricter public-procurement rules appears ineffective, facing diplomatic hurdles and weak provisions. The EU's rhetoric on Chinese competition has intensified, partly due to pressure from Berlin and Paris to relax merger rules. The commission resists changing competition law, instead suggesting alternatives like reviving the public-procurement bill. The proposal aims to erect barriers against countries hindering European investment, but faces opposition from member states with differing views on protectionism.

The European Commission has requested a US court to limit the disclosure of documents in a class action lawsuit against salmon companies accused of cartel behavior. The Commission argues that nondisclosure is essential for its ongoing investigation into the Norwegian Atlantic salmon market. The US Department of Justice is also investigating potential collusion among salmon producers. The class action in Florida seeks access to the Commission's documents, which the Commission opposes to protect its investigation. A hearing is scheduled to discuss the matter, with the Commission emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality to ensure effective enforcement against cartel activities.

The ongoing patent licensing dispute involving Nokia, Daimler, and other companies over connected car technology may be expedited if German judges refer the case to the EU Court of Justice, as requested by the Bundeskartellamt. This move could lead to a resolution within two years, avoiding a prolonged process through the European Commission. The case centers on whether Nokia should license its standard-essential patents at the car level or to individual car-part suppliers. The outcome could impact other SEP licensing disputes across various connected devices. The Mannheim Regional Court is set to decide on August 4 whether to refer the case to the EU's top court.

Researchers have developed a new class of semiconducting III–V-derived van der Waals crystals with memristive properties, specifically the HxA1–xBX form. Through high-throughput screening, 44 potential III–V candidates were identified, and ten were successfully synthesized, including nitrides, phosphides, arsenides, and antimonides. These materials exhibit electrochemical polarization and memristive phenomena while maintaining semiconductive attributes. The study demonstrates gate-tunable synaptic and logic functions within single-gate memtransistors, highlighting the synergistic interplay between semiconducting and memristive properties. This research provides a pathway for discovering van der Waals materials with unique properties from unconventional crystal symmetries.

The study explores the impact of varying pressures during the hot-pressing process on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ce-substituted Nd-Ce-Fe-B hot-deformed magnets. It finds that low-pressure conditions lead to porous, low-density sintered bodies with reduced anisotropy, while excessive pressure results in heterogeneous grain boundaries and grain coarsening. Optimal pressure conditions (200 MPa) suppress the formation of the REFe2 secondary phase, facilitating appropriate crystallization and microstructure formation. This results in high-performance, cost-effective magnets with well-aligned RE2Fe14B platelets and a high Nd/Ce-concentration paramagnetic grain boundary phase, achieving superior magnetic properties with 40 wt.% Nd substitution by Ce.

The study presents a novel approach to enhance the magnetic properties of hot-deformed NdFeB magnets by integrating the minimal stress deformation process (MSDP) with the design of experiments (DoE) methodology. Key findings include the identification of optimal processing variables, such as a hot-pressing temperature of 700 °C and a strain rate of 0.019 mm/s, which significantly improve grain alignment and magnetic properties. The research highlights the potential of this integrated approach to advance the fabrication of high-performance magnets, addressing challenges in crystallographic alignment and scalability for industrial applications.

Apple faces scrutiny from EU enforcers over potential anticompetitive conduct related to how its iPhone and iPad interact with wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness bands. The European Commission is investigating whether Apple imposes technical and contractual barriers that hinder access to features such as notifications and contactless payments, potentially disadvantaging rival products. This inquiry is part of a broader EU investigation into smart devices and their interfaces, which also includes Google's use of voice assistants. The commission aims to determine if Apple's restrictions stifle innovation and limit market competition.

JetBlue's planned transatlantic expansion has reignited the debate over the competitiveness of joint-venture agreements among legacy airlines. The budget carrier aims to introduce multiple daily flights from Boston and New York to London by 2021, targeting both the budget and premium markets. JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty has called for regulatory changes to support smaller airlines, coinciding with the UK Competition & Markets Authority's investigation into the Atlantic Joint Business Agreement involving American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair.