Business
EU fines Apple and Meta €700m, risking Trump fury
Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. were hit by relatively modest European Union fines totaling €700 million ($798 million) for violating tough new antitrust rules for Big Tech, following warnings of harsh retaliation from US President Donald Trump.
EU regulators levied the penalties — €500 million against Apple and €200 million against Meta — under its Digital Markets Act, which includes a list of dos and don’ts mainly aimed at Silicon Valley giants.
“Apple and Meta have fallen short,” EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said on Wednesday.
“All companies operating in the EU must follow our laws and respect European values.”
The punishments — the first under the DMA — are far lower than previous penalties under traditional EU competition law, and are likely to be seen as an attempt to avoid further provoking Trump, who recently laid out a swath of tariffs on global economies.
He’s specifically called out the EU’s tech regulations as the kind of non-tariff trade barrier that his so-called reciprocal tariffs are intended to target.
The European Commission said that Apple had failed to allow developers to link out from its App Store in order to make sales outside of the company’s marketplace.
Meta’s business model for ad-free services on Instagram and Facebook also fell foul of the tech law, which gives regulators fining powers of up to 10% of a company’s global annual revenue.
Both firms must comply with the EU decision within 60 days, or face the risk of further financial penalties.
Apple was also warned that its new fee structure for app developers — itself a plan devised to comply with EU rules — isn’t in line with the EU Big Tech rulebook.
Apple responded fiercely to the EU penalty, accusing the bloc’s regulators of discriminating against the company and forcing it to give away its technology for free.
The Cupertino, California-based company said it would appeal the fine to the EU courts. Just last year, the company was hit with a €1.8 billion EU fine for shutting out music-streaming rivals on the iPhone.
Meta’s head of global affairs Joel Kaplan also hit back, saying the EU “is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.”
The EU decision “isn’t just about a fine; the commission forcing us to change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service,” said Kaplan.
“And by unfairly restricting personalized advertising the European Commission is also hurting European businesses and economies.
”The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Asked about whether the commission had deliberately kept the fines low to avoid provoking Trump, the Brussels-based EU commission said the fines were “proportionate” to the alleged gravity and duration of breaches of the DMA, which became applicable two years ago.
“This is about enforcement. It’s not about trade negotiations,” commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta told reporters.
Still, the size of the fines “suggest an easing of European regulatory pressure on US tech giants,” according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tamlin Bason.
“Penalties under the competition law could have been as much as 10% of total revenue, but ended up being less than 0.15% of each company’s 2024 sales, likely reflecting caution on aggressive enforcement against a tense backdrop in US-EU relations,” Bason said.
Despite its fine, Apple did see EU watchdogs close an investigation into online browsers after it rejigged how it offers users more choice on their iPhones.
EU regulators also backtracked on their decision to target Facebook Marketplace under the DMA. Meta was hit by a €798 million EU fine for alleged abuses on that service last year under standard antitrust law.
Apple shares rose 3.5% and Meta advanced 7% in early New York trading while the S&P 500 Index was up 3%.
Over recent years the EU has made costly penalties against firms, including more than $8 billion in fines against Alphabet Inc.’s Google and a separate order for Apple to pay Ireland back taxes of €13 billion.
Under its abuse-of-dominance rules, it has also forced changes out of Amazon.com Inc.’s marketplace platform and Apple’s tap-and-go chip, while also investigating Microsoft Corp. video conference software, Teams.
Business
FG Plans to Extend Lagos Rail Line to Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminals
Keyamo noted that Lagos accounts for 67 per mcent of passenger traffic through Nigeria’s airports.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced at the ongoing Invest in Lagos 3.0 summit, that the federal government has concluded arrangements to extend the existing Lagos rail network to the domestic and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA).
The move is aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening Lagos’ position as an aviation hub in Africa.
He said discussions between his ministry and the state government are ongoing.
The extension will link the rail line that currently terminates at Ikeja Bus Stop to the airport.
According to Keyamo, the line will pass through the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), continue to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), and end at the international terminal.
“That rail line is about to start. It is the extension of the rail line. So, Lagos is just ready for the next big step in terms of its aviation activities,” the minister said.
The project is expected to ease access to Nigeria’s busiest airport. It also supports the government’s ambition to position Lagos as a major aviation and logistics hub on the continent.
The proposed link will complement Lagos’ expanding rail network.
Last month, the Lagos State Government said the Blue Line carried about 3.5 million passengers in 2025, with daily ridership rising to 15,000 commuters. Work continues on its extension to Okokomaiko and expansion of services on the Red Line.
Keyamo noted that Lagos accounts for 67 percent of passenger traffic through Nigeria’s airports.
He argued that the state’s location gives it a natural advantage to compete with established aviation hubs.
“Just six hours across the Atlantic, you will get to South America from the Lagos airport. Six hours down, you will get to Southern Africa. Six hours to the Middle East, you will get to Dubai or Qatar. Six hours up, you will get to Europe, either France or London.
That is the equidistant advantage that Lagos provides as a hub for the whole of Africa. We will soon catch up with hubs like Addis Ababa and Lome,” he said.
The minister also highlighted ongoing investments in airport infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said about $500 million has been committed to reconstructing and modernising the international terminal at Lagos airport.
The investment will transform the ageing facility into a modern airport capable of handling growing passenger and cargo traffic.
Keyamo added that the federal government has expanded Nigeria’s international airport network. Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo and Maiduguri International Airport have been designated as international airports, bringing the total to seven.
He said the resolution of the long-running dispute between BASL and the federal government shows the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in aviation.
He urged local and foreign investors to explore opportunities in the sector, including the proposed airport project in the Lekki-Epe corridor promoted by the Lagos State Government.If implemented, the airport rail extension will provide direct rail access to the country’s busiest aviation gateway.
It will complement ongoing investments in Lagos’ mass transit system and support broader efforts to improve mobility in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Business
Exchange Rates Today, Wednesday 10 June, 2026
Black Market Rates
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,390 Sell ₦1,400
Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1, 875
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,000 Sell ₦1, 100
Official CBN Exchange Rates
US Dollar (USD) ₦1,360.55
Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,823. 00
EURO (EUR) ₦1,873.61
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,709. 02
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.49
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦200.92
West African CFA (XOF) ₦2.40
West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,856. 66
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦362. 38
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦82.71
Black Market Rates
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,390 Sell ₦1,400
Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1, 875
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,000 Sell ₦1, 100
South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE Dirham Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370
Chinese Yuan Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
Ghana Cedi (GHS) Buy ₦100 Sell ₦115
West African CFA Buy ₦2,450 Sell ₦2,550
Central African CFA Buy ₦2,320 Sell 2400
Australian Dollar Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
Credit: CBN I Aboki Forex
Business
Invest in Lagos 3.0 Summit Attracts more than 600 delegates
Ohibaba.com reports that the summit, themed “Lagos: The Business Gateway to Africa,” featured presentations from representatives of the Presidency and the governors of Lagos, Imo, Abia, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa states.
• Representatives of government and private sector delegates at the summit
Invest in Lagos 3.0 Summit attracted more than 600 delegates—including global institutions, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions and trade networks.
Ohibaba.com reports that the summit, themed “Lagos: The Business Gateway to Africa,” featured presentations from representatives of the Presidency and the governors of Lagos, Imo, Abia, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa states.
The host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called for increased private sector investment in rail transport, energy, agriculture, agro-processing and water infrastructure.
He said that addressing transportation challenges would unlock Lagos’ economic potential, reduce travel time, boost productivity and improve returns on investment.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment through ongoing fiscal reforms. He said the new tax law has eliminated multiple taxation, improved compliance and provided relief for small and medium enterprises.
Oyedele added that stamp duty collection has been transferred to state governments and commended states that have adopted harmonised tax systems.
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