Hard Numbers: Trump meets with TikTok, Europe investigates it, Morales investigated for sexual abuse, Mexico charges Walmart for monopoly
6: Speaking of TikTok, it is also in hot water in the EU, where it is under investigation for potentially breaching digital regulations during Romania's presidential election. After Romania's top court canceled the first-round voting results, authorities alleged a Russian-organized social media campaign boosted far-right candidate Calin Georgescu through paid influencer promotions. The investigation will examine TikTok's content recommendation systems and could result in mandatory platform changes or fines up to 6% of the company's global revenue.
15: Bolivian prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales in a sexual abuse investigation involving an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2016. Morales, who denies the allegations, claims this is a political conspiracy to prevent him from running in next year's election. A conviction would not only result in criminal charges but also potentially ban him from political office, effectively ending his political career.
2.5%: Mexico's anti-monopoly regulators imposed 10-year special conditions on Walmart's Mexico subsidiary for allegedly pressuring suppliers and engaging in monopolistic practices. The Federal Competition Commission accused Walmart of using market power to force suppliers to offer exclusive discounts and prevent them from giving better prices to competitors. Walmart was fined $4.6 million and plans to appeal, claiming the case is unfair. The company's shares fell 2.5% following the announcement.