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Google has taken the bizarre step of paying the US governments proposed damages in full as it seeks to avoid a risky jury trial in the Justice Departments case targeting its alleged monopoly over the digital advertising market.

In a little-noticed court filing last week, Google revealed it cut a cashiers check for a redacted amount of money — believed to be a paltry sum of less than $3 million — that the company claimed covered full monetary damages sought by the DOJ.

It wasnt immediately clear if the DOJs legal team had accepted the check.

The DOJ had filed for monetary damages on behalf of government entities, such as the US army, that have purportedly overpaid for online ads due to Googles harmful business practices.

Critics of Google seized on the filing as proof that the company was afraid to leave the case — which could upend its lucrative digital advertising business and force changes to its business model — in the hands of jurors.

Google A/B tests everything, so this move suggests theyve run a jury simulation (perhaps more than once) and found theyre vulnerable, said Luther Lowe, the head of public policy at Y Combinator.

Filed in Virginia federal court, the DOJs case also seeks to force a breakup of Googles advertising technology business, including the forced sale of its ad manager platform.

Google argued that DOJ sought monetary damages solely to clear the legal bar for securing a trial by jury, rather than a bench trial decided by a judge.

Googles lawyers argue the check means the DOJ has no right to a jury trial.  

Google continues to dispute liability and welcomes a full resolution by this court of all remaining claims in the complaint, the companys filing said.

Google also has claimed that the DOJs request for a jury trial was breaking with all historical precedent for antitrust proceedings

The filing noted that the DOJ itself has referred to the details of the case as highly technical, often abstract, and outside the everyday knowledge of most prospective jurors.

Google said in previous filings that the DOJ has demonstrated maximum damages of less than $1 million during the discovery process. Since the law allows the court to issue treble damages or triple the originally stated amount the check was likely less than $3 million.

DOJ manufactured a damages claim at the last minute in an attempt to secure a jury trial in a case even they describe as highly technical and outside the everyday knowledge of most prospective jurors, a Google spokesperson said in a statement. Thats why the law warrants a judicial review of the evidence in this case.

The Post has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

Earlier this year, Google was handed one of the worst legal losses in company history after a jury determined by unanimous verdict that it had maintained an illegal monopoly through its Android app store.

The case, which was brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games, is currently in the remedy phase.

Another major antitrust case, the Justice Departments landmark challenge of Googles online search empire, was a bench trial. US District Judge Amit Mehta will issue his decision on whether Google maintains a monopoly over online search later this year.

With Post wires

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Business

Ryanair and easyJet cancel hundreds of flights over air traffic control strike

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Ryanair and easyJet cancel hundreds of flights over air traffic control strike

Ryanair and easyJet have cancelled hundreds of flights as a French air traffic controllers strike looms.

Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, said it had axed 170 services amid a plea by French authorities for airlines to reduce flights at Paris airports by 40% on Friday.

EasyJet said it was cancelling 274 flights during the action, which is due to begin later as part of a row over staffing numbers and ageing equipment.

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The owner of British Airways, IAG, said it was planning to use larger aircraft to minimise disruption for its own passengers.

The industrial action is set to affect all flights using French airspace, leading to wider cancellations and delays across Europe and the wider world.

Ryanair said its cancellations, covering both days, would hit services to and from France, and also flights over the country to destinations such as the UK, Greece, Spain and Ireland.

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Group chief executive Michael O’Leary has campaigned for a European Union-led shake-up of air traffic control services in a bid to prevent such disruptive strikes, which have proved common in recent years.

He described the latest action as “recreational”.

Michael O'Leary. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Michael O’Leary. Pic: Reuters

“Once again, European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike,” he said.

“It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike.

“It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.”

Ryanair is demanding the EU ensure that air traffic services are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures, as well as to protect overflights during national strikes.

“These two splendid reforms would eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike,” Mr O’Leary added.

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CBI kicks off search for successor to ‘saviour’ Soames

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CBI kicks off search for successor to 'saviour' Soames

The CBI has begun a search for a successor to Rupert Soames, its chairman, as it continues its recovery from the crisis which brought it to the brink of collapse in 2023.

Sky News has learnt that the business lobbying group’s nominations committee has engaged headhunters to assist with a hunt for its next corporate figurehead.

Mr Soames, the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, was recruited by the CBI in late 2023 with the organisation lurching towards insolvency after an exodus of members.

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The group’s handling of a sexual misconduct scandal saw it forced to secure emergency funding from a group of banks, even as it was frozen out of meetings with government ministers.

One prominent CBI member described Mr Soames on Thursday as the group’s “saviour”.

“Without his ability to bring members back, the organisation wouldn’t exist today,” they claimed.

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Rupert Soames
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Rupert Soames. Pic: Reuters

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Mr Soames and Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI chief executive, have partly restored its influence in Whitehall, although many doubt that it will ever be able to credibly reclaim its former status as ‘the voice of British business’.

Its next chair, who is also likely to be drawn from a leading listed company boardroom, will take over from Mr Soames early next year.

Egon Zehnder International is handling the search for the CBI.

“The CBI chair’s term typically runs for two years and Rupert Soames will end his term in early 2026,” a CBI spokesperson said.

“In line with good governance, we have begun the search for a successor to ensure continuity and a smooth transition.”

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Technology

Apple’s China iPhone sales grows for the first time in two years

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Apple's China iPhone sales grows for the first time in two years

People stand in front of an Apple store in Beijing, China, on April 9, 2025.

Tingshu Wang | Reuters

Apple iPhone sales in China rose in the second quarter of the year for the first time in two years, Counterpoint Research said, as the tech giant looks to turnaround its business in one of its most critical markets.

Sales of iPhones in China jumped 8% year-on-year in the three months to the end of June, according to Counterpoint Research. It’s the first time Apple has recorded growth in China since the second quarter of 2023.

Apple’s performance was boosted by promotions in May as Chinese e-commerce firms discounted Apple’s iPhone 16 models, its latest devices, Counterpoint said. The tech giant also increased trade-in prices for some iPhone.

“Apple’s adjustment of iPhone prices in May was well timed and well received, coming a week ahead of the 618 shopping festival,” Ethan Qi, associate director at Counterpoint said in a press release. The 618 shopping festival happens in China every June and e-commerce retailers offer heavy discounts.

Apple’s return to growth in China will be welcomed by investors who have seen the company’s stock fall around 15% this year as it faces a number of headwinds.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Apple with tariffs and urged CEO Tim Cook to manufacture iPhones in America, a move experts have said would be near-impossible. China has also been a headache for Apple since Huawei, whose smartphone business was crippled by U.S. sanctions, made a comeback in late 2023 with the release of a new phone containing a more advanced chip that many had thought would be difficult for China to produce.

Since then, Huawei has aggressively launched devices in China and has even begun dipping its toe back into international markets. The Chinese tech giant has found success eating away at some of Apple’s market share in China.

Huawei’s sales rose 12% year-on-year in the second-quarter, according to Counterpoint. The firm was the biggest player in China by market share in the second quarter, followed by Vivo and then Apple in third place.

“Huawei is still riding high on core user loyalty as they replace their old phones for new Huawei releases,” Counterpoint Senior Analyst Ivan Lam said.

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