Online retail service owned by Alibaba Group; global marketplace
A roundup of current Amazon Haul deals highlights bargain-priced items across Lego, Adidas, Salter and other brands. The feature notes low prices due to direct-from-manufacturer sourcing, with delivery times of up to two weeks.
The European Commission has fined AliExpress €1.2 billion for failing to stop the sale of illegal, unsafe and counterfeit goods on its platform. Regulators found weak staffing, bypassable checks, ineffective brand controls and recommendation systems that promoted flagged items. AliExpress says the penalty is disproportionate and will appeal; it must submit a compliance plan by 20 October 2026.
The European Commission has fined Google €890m for breaching the Digital Markets Act by self‑preferencing search results and blocking app developers from steering users away from Google Play. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate Section 301 trade investigation and threatened substantial tariffs, raising the prospect of fresh US‑EU trade tensions over tech regulation.
Electrical Safety First found 14 travel adaptors bought from AliExpress, eBay, Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop fail basic safety tests, risking electric shocks and fires. Independent and BBC corroborate, urging shoppers to buy only from trusted retailers. Regulators warn thousands may already be in UK homes.
The Guardian and other outlets report increasing concern over Meta’s Ray‑Ban smartglasses. Pubs, theatres and schools ban or restrict wearables to protect privacy as regulators weigh rules. While advocates highlight accessibility benefits, critics warn surreptitious filming and harassment threaten safety in public spaces.
Shein has floated on the Hong Kong stock exchange at HK$48.56 a share, valuing the company at about US$26.3bn and raising roughly HK$13.6bn. Shares plunged as much as 10% on open before recovering to close marginally below the offer price. The IPO follows failed plans to list in New York and London and rising trade and regulatory costs that have squeezed margins.
Shein's Hong Kong listing is priced lower than hoped, valuing the company around $26.3 billion. Trading began shakily, with early losses narrowing as markets digest regulatory twists, tax changes, and weak consumer sentiment that have weighed on the fast-fashion group after a rapid ascent.
France has launched a levy targeting ultra-fast fashion firms including Shein and Temu as part of a June-backed bill to curb environmental and economic effects. The measure links charges to how much clothing retailers place on the market and the repair cost relative to item price, with per-item fees scaling up to 2030. France argues the policy tackles consumer excess and supply-chain concerns, while critics call it discriminatory and a potential trade barrier.