Business Standard

Human rights advocates are reminding companies that they carry legal and ethical responsibilities under international standards, including conducting due diligence to avoid complicity in human rights violations or abuses. The message is being voiced in the context of the war in Palestine and ongoing ceasefire discussions, with critics urging firms to scrutinise their supply chains, investments and business ties to ensure they are not linked to abuses.

Microsoft is ending support for Internet Explorer mode in its Edge browser, retiring the feature that let businesses run legacy websites built for the old Internet Explorer engine. The move marks the final step in Microsoft's long phase-out of Internet Explorer technology, and companies still relying on outdated internal sites will need to migrate them to modern standards.

China has widened its travel restrictions to cover not only leading AI researchers but also their family members, according to a report carried by Business Standard. The move signals Beijing's growing concern over retaining top artificial intelligence talent and preventing brain drain, as competition with the United States for expertise intensifies. The policy would effectively bar relatives of key AI specialists from leaving the country.

A new study scanning 4,688 small-business websites found that 49.7% failed to meet any of seven standard security header criteria, including protections like strict transport security and content security policies. The findings suggest many small firms remain exposed to common web attacks such as clickjacking and script injection despite easy, low-cost fixes. Readers are debating whether small businesses lack awareness or simply lack the technical resources to implement the headers.

Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of Bangladesh's cricket campaign at the Asian Games after falling ill with a fever, and is returning home. The news, reported by The Business Standard, comes as a setback for the squad, which will now have to adjust its batting plans without its captain ahead of the tournament matches in China.

A court case involving Pepsi could change how judges assess the strength of trademarks in US law, with potential consequences for how businesses protect their brands. The dispute raises questions about the legal standards used to determine whether a mark is strong enough to merit broad protection against infringement.

The US Senate is set to vote on a sweeping bill affecting college sports. The legislation would establish federal standards for how college athletes are treated, touching on issues such as name, image and likeness payments and athlete protections that have so far been handled in a patchwork of state laws. Coverage has focused on what the bill would actually change for schools, athletes and the NCAA if it passes.

President Donald Trump says he has approved new fuel economy standards that roll back rules put in place during the Biden administration. The move relaxes emissions and efficiency requirements for automakers, a reversal of the previous administration's stricter climate-focused vehicle regulations. The announcement is being covered by major business outlets as a significant shift in US auto and environmental policy.

The European Union has updated its anti-greenwashing law, tightening rules on how companies make environmental claims about their products. The measures aim to stop vague or unverified sustainability labels, such as generic terms like 'eco-friendly' or 'climate neutral', unless backed by evidence. Businesses operating in the EU market will need to review their marketing, and consumer groups have broadly welcomed the stricter standards.

The Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) is taking part in the UN Business and Human Rights Conference held in Senegal. The gathering brings together civil society, business and government representatives to discuss corporate responsibility and human rights standards across Africa. MEJN's participation signals its continued engagement with regional efforts to hold companies accountable for human rights impacts.

The International Organization for Standardization has adopted a new standard for managing commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The standard gives organisations a formal framework for setting, tracking and reporting their contributions to the SDGs. Sustainability and corporate responsibility observers are expected to scrutinise how companies and institutions implement it.