Tech (USA) — H‑1B Visa Fee Sparks Chaos at Big Tech
Tech giants scramble as Trump’s new H‑1B visa fee sparks confusion
Major tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are reeling after a new proclamation from President Trump introduced a $100,000 fee for H‑1B visa applications, though it appears to apply only to new applicants. This shift has led to internal memos advising existing H‑1B holders to avoid international travel, amidst lack of clarity over how renewals and existing visas will be treated.
Tech / Regulatory (USA) — ByteDance, TikTok & U.S. Board Control Framework
ByteDance to retain single board seat out of 7 in TikTok’s US operations
In U.S.–China negotiations, ByteDance is reportedly set to keep only one of the seven board seats in the U.S. operation of TikTok. The rest will be filled by Americans, with data storage being shifted to Oracle — part of a framework designed to satisfy U.S. legislation demanding divestment unless compliant structures are put in place.
Tech / Telecom (Canada) — EQT Exits TELUS Digital Stake in Major Telecom/AI Move
Private equity firm EQT is selling its 13.1% stake in TELUS Digital for approximately US$215 million, realizing a four‑fold return over nine years. This exit highlights telecom’s increasing shift toward AI‑driven services and digital experience platforms, as well as broader sector rotation where capital is moving toward firms with strong tech‑enabled growth.
Industrial / Food Tech (Europe) — French Plant‑Based Meat Maker Gets Big Funding
Nxtfood Raises $58M in Europe’s Largest Plant‑Based Meat Funding Round in 2025
Accro‑brand startup Nxtfood just secured €49 million (~US$58M) in new funding — the biggest Europe has seen in the plant‑based meat category this year. The company tripled its revenue in the last year, and the capital will go toward expanding production, co‑manufacturing, and pushing for profitability within 12‑18 months.
Regulatory / Antitrust (Europe) — Google’s Adtech Shake‑Up Falls Short of Full Breakup
Google to meet EU deadline on Adtech overhaul, but stops short of full breakup
The European Commission has fined Google €2.95 billion for antitrust violations in its adtech business. While Google will comply with deadlines to propose changes, its plan reportedly won’t include the full structural breakup regulators demanded—meaning parts of its Ad Manager suite may remain intact.
Tech / USA
Nvidia to Launch Next‑Gen AI Chip “Blackwell Ultra” in 2026
Nvidia announced plans for a 2026 launch of its “Blackwell Ultra” processor, promising major efficiency gains for AI training and inference. Analysts expect it to strengthen Nvidia’s dominance while intensifying global competition in high‑performance computing.
Tech / Europe
Google Offers EU Plan to Avoid Adtech Break‑Up
Google is preparing remedies to satisfy the EU’s antitrust ruling against its advertising business, aiming to avoid a structural split of AdX and DoubleClick. The €2.95 billion fine underscores the regulatory risks facing global platforms in Europe.
Industrial / USA
Ford and SK On Open $11.4B BlueOval Battery Park in Kentucky
Ford and South Korea’s SK On officially opened their massive BlueOval SK Battery Park, billed as one of the largest U.S. EV battery complexes. The site will supply next‑gen batteries for Ford vehicles, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening U.S. EV supply chains.
Marketing/Sales / Canada
Shopify Expands B2B Platform With AI‑Powered Analytics Tools
Canadian e‑commerce giant Shopify has rolled out new AI‑driven analytics features to its B2B offering, designed to help merchants better predict demand and optimize pricing. The move positions Shopify as a stronger competitor to U.S. and Asian e‑commerce platforms in the wholesale space.
Wildcard / Asia (China)
China Orders Tech Giants to Halt Use of Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D Chips
Beijing has restricted firms like Alibaba and ByteDance from buying or testing Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D chips, citing cybersecurity concerns. The order highlights escalating U.S.–China tech tensions and could accelerate domestic chip development initiatives.
