On the edge of the Arabian Gulf, the immense scale of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, is prominently displayed. One building features a 140-foot-long curved monitor encircling a room, monitoring the flow of crude through 25,000 miles of pipelines.Nearby, at the company’s “advanced exploration and petroleum engineering research center” (EXPECArc), scientists fine-tune seismic drones that can analyze underground rock formations and instantly relay the data to engineers. This technology saves Aramco the cost and risk of sending teams into the desert to drill for oil. Additionally, researchers test fast-curing cement infused with carbon and experiment with compounds designed…

Apple has initiated another round of discounts in China, a move unusual for the company as it strives to maintain its foothold in the world’s second-largest economy.Starting Monday, Apple slashed prices of the latest iPhone 15 model by over 20% on Chinese e-commerce platforms such as JD.com and Alibaba’s Tmall, according to the state-run Global Times. Discounts on Tmall reached up to 2,300 yuan ($138), reports Reuters. This promotion continues until May 28.This marks Apple’s second round of discounts in China this year. In January, Apple offered a 500 yuan ($69) discount on its official website over a three-day period…

During his decade as CEO, Satya Nadella has transformed Microsoft from a struggling tech giant into the world’s most valuable company, with a market cap exceeding $3.1 trillion. Throughout his 32-year tenure at Microsoft, Nadella has witnessed four major technology platform shifts—PCs, the web, mobile, cloud computing, and now AI. He understands how the company struggled to compete during some of these transitions, which may explain the sense of urgency and slight paranoia he conveys in Fortune’s latest cover story by Jeremy Kahn.As Nadella remarked to Jeremy, “When the paradigm shifts, do you have something to contribute? Because there is…

Zyn, a popular nicotine pouch made by Philip Morris International Inc., is currently out of stock at numerous nationwide retailers, with some wholesalers also struggling to procure the product.The shortage follows an 80% surge in US demand for Zyn in the first quarter, as reported by Philip Morris International, which also sells Marlboro cigarettes outside the US. This increase in demand has coincided with a lawsuit over the products’ nicotine content and growing criticism of their marketing practices, sparking concerns about potential regulatory action against this cigarette alternative. As cigarette smoking declines and the vape industry faces competition from unauthorized…

On Thursday, Google requested that a judge, rather than a jury, decide whether it violated U.S. antitrust laws by monopolizing the technology behind online advertising.To support its case, the tech giant made a multimillion-dollar payment to the U.S. government, which it claims nullifies the government’s strongest argument for requiring a jury trial.The antitrust case, set for a jury trial in Alexandria, Virginia, in September, is one of two significant lawsuits the Justice Department has filed against Google. While the Virginia case addresses advertising technology, an ongoing case in the District of Columbia focuses on Google’s search engine dominance.In the D.C.…

HSBC Holdings Plc is leaning towards selecting its next CEO from a pool of internal candidates as it commences the search for a successor to outgoing CEO Noel Quinn.Georges Elhedery, currently serving as Chief Financial Officer, and Nuno Matos, who leads wealth and personal banking, are emerging as top contenders for the role, as per sources familiar with the matter. External recruitment agencies have been enlisted to evaluate them alongside external candidates, although the final decision rests with the board, who could opt for a different direction. HSBC declined to comment on the ongoing process.The internal candidates offer a robust…

Generic medications provide annual savings of billions of dollars to 43 million Medicare beneficiaries compared to brand-name drugs, often priced around 80% lower. However, assuming uniformity among generics in terms of side effects, manufacturing standards, pricing, and coverage under Part D prescription drug plans is incorrect.Therefore, thorough research before purchasing generics or enrolling in a Medicare drug plan is crucial, although it can be challenging.Fearing the generics problem her dad had Consider Susan Jaquith, a retired educator residing in Wilson, N.C., who had been spending approximately $2,000 annually on a brand-name blood pressure medication. Seeking a more economical alternative, she contemplated…

Vodafone Group Plc announced a return to growth in Germany, its largest and most closely monitored market, under the leadership of CEO Margherita Della Valle, who is driving efforts to enhance performance.In the statement released on Tuesday, the company revealed that service revenue in Germany increased by 0.2% to €11.45 billion ($12.4 billion) for the year. However, adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) after leases declined by 5.8% to €5 billion, primarily due to rising energy and inflationary costs.Vodafone’s growth in Germany faced challenges due to impending legal changes preventing housing associations from including TV services in…

In the current discourse, there’s significant attention on the widespread issue of loneliness. I personally experienced a pang of it yesterday, waking up alone on Mother’s Day in my apartment, though later my 18-year-old son returned to prepare dinner for me. Chronic loneliness can lead people to feel disconnected from their social circles, their work, and even themselves. This feeling is particularly acute among younger individuals, partly due to factors like remote work. However, addressing loneliness is especially challenging for older individuals who might be confined to their homes, living alone, or without employment.Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition…

According to the plaintiff’s attorneys, a Pennsylvania jury has ruled that ExxonMobil must pay $725.5 million to a former mechanic who alleged that exposure to toxic chemicals in the company’s gasoline and solvents led to his cancer.The 10-2 decision was reached after a trial in a Philadelphia state court, where the plaintiff, Paul Gill, claimed he encountered benzene in ExxonMobil products while working at a gas station from 1975 to 1980.Following a trial lasting just over a week, the jury found Exxon negligent for not adequately warning about the health risks of benzene, a known carcinogen classified by the U.S.…