The co-founder of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s says that its parent company Unilever blocked it from launching an ice cream flavour that expressed “solidarity with Palestine”.
Ben Cohen announced that he will independently create the new flavour as part of a personal series highlighting causes the company has been barred from addressing publicly.
Ben & Jerry’s is known for its activism on social issues and has consistently spoken out on political, environmental and humanitarian matters – including the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The BBC has contacted Unilever for comment.
Mr Cohen’s statement deepens the long-drawn dispute between the world-famous ice cream maker and Unilever, the British packaged goods giant which has owned Ben & Jerry’s since 2000.
The co-founders said Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum, which is being spun off from its parent company, had unlawfully blocked their company from “honouring its social mission”.
Mr Cohen said in an Instagram video on Tuesday that he is creating a new watermelon-flavoured sorbet, calling for ideas for the product’s name and what ingredients should be added.
The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with Palestinians due to its colours, which are similar to those of the Palestinian flag – red, green, black and white.
The American entrepreneur said Ben & Jerry’s were prevented by Unilever from creating the dessert.
“I’m doing what they couldn’t,” Mr Cohen says from his set in a kitchen. “I’m making a watermelon-flavoured ice cream that calls for permanent peace in Palestine and calls for repairing the damage that was done there.”
In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel. Its Israeli operation was sold by Unilever to a local licensee, allowing its ice cream to continue being sold in the occupied West Bank.
The dessert series will be developed under Ben’s Best, Mr Cohen’s activist ice cream brand, he said in a statement to the press. The flavour is being produced independently of Ben & Jerry’s, the statement said.
Ben’s Best was first setup in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, with the flavour “Bernie’s Back”.
Mr Cohen said he will develop other ice cream flavours that speak to the issues Ben & Jerry’s was silenced from addressing publicly by Unilever.
In September, co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down from Ben & Jerry’s after decades at the company, citing concerns that its independence had been compromised following Unilever’s decision to curb its social activism.
At the time, Ben Cohen said that “Jerry has a really big heart and this conflict with Unilever was breaking it.”
“My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to advocate for its independence so that it can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years,” he told the BBC’s PM programme.
Nearly 25 million people visited Greece between January and August 2025, the country’s central bank said, marking a 4% jump from last year as non-European Union (EU) tourists drove record travel spending.
Tourism revenue surges as non-EU visitors lead way
Greece earned €16.7 billion in travel revenue from January to August 2025, up 12% from the same period last year, according to the Bank of Greece.
Inbound travelers reached 24.9 million, up from 24.8 million in 2024, showing continued recovery in the country’s travel sector.
EU travelers still made up the majority of arrivals, but their numbers barely changed from 2024. Within the bloc, trips from Eurozone countries rose 3.8%, while those from non-Eurozone states increased 6.9%.
Air, land arrivals both rise
According to the same data, air arrivals rose 4.2%, while land border crossings were up 4.8%, highlighting solid demand from both long-haul tourists and regional travellers.
Tourism remains a “vital pillar of the national economy,” the Bank of Greece noted in its summary, adding that the country’s travel sector is on track for another strong year in 2025.
(Image courtesy of user32212 via Pixabay)
Greece dominates travel awards
Separately, Greece secured top rankings in seven categories of the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.
Greek hotels and resorts dominated the European lists — including Porto Zante Villas & Spa (Zakynthos) and Sani Resort (Halkidiki) — while Naxos was named Europe’s Best Island with a score of 95.71.
The awards also placed Athens 12th among Europe’s best cities, praising its mix of ancient sites and new cultural energy.
Outlook for the rest of 2025
Tourism receipts and visitor volumes suggest Greece is heading for another record-breaking year.
Economists have highlighted tourism as a central driver of national income and employment, with revenue growth supported by high-spending markets beyond the EU.
The Bank of Greece said the sector’s strength “suggests another strong year for the industry as the country looks ahead to the final months of 2025.”
(Image courtesy of k5hu via iStock)
Travel rules tighten as Europe adapts to tourism growth
For short-term visitors heading to Greece or elsewhere in the Schengen Area, new border systems are set to change how people enter and leave the EU.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), due to begin in late 2026, will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to apply online before their trip.
Meanwhile, the Entry-Exit System (EES), which was launched this October, will log when non-EU visitors cross the border, replacing manual passport stamps.
Together, these systems aim to improve border security and track overstays, but they will also make travel planning more digital and time-sensitive.
Tourists can still move freely once inside the Schengen Zone, but they will need to factor in extra steps before arrival.
Long-term visitors and migrants will also face closer checks, as the EU updates how it monitors movement between member states.
Tourism boom set to shape Greece’s economic future
Greece’s strong tourism performance in 2025 highlights the sector’s vital role in driving the country’s economy.
Record visitor numbers and rising travel receipts show that international demand — especially from non-EU countries — is keeping momentum high.
With the industry now a cornerstone of national growth, Greece’s focus on sustainability and year-round travel will determine how long this success can last.
For a nation that depends on tourism more than most, maintaining that balance could shape its economic story for years to come.
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(Bloomberg) — Asian stocks advanced on optimism that artificial intelligence will continue to drive profits at megacap technology companies reporting earnings this week, and growing bets on a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut.
MSCI’s regional stock gauge rose 0.5%, with the tech sector outperforming. Japan and South Korea led the gains – yet, in both the Nikkei 225 and the Kospi, losers outnumbered winners. Similarly, almost 400 components declined in the S&P 500 index, even though the gauge gained a modest 0.2% to close at an all-time high. Asian chip-related stocks such as SK Hynix Inc. and Advantest Corp. jumped Wednesday after strong earnings.
Nvidia Corp.’s shares surged more than 8% in Asian trading on the alternative platform Blue Ocean, signaling further gains when trading starts in New York, after US President Donald Trump said he plans to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the company’s Blackwell chip. Futures for the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 indexes extended their gains on Trump’s comments.
With five big tech companies — representing roughly a quarter of the US equity benchmark — set to report earnings between Wednesday and Thursday, investors will soon gauge whether the billions poured into computing infrastructure will keep flowing and ultimately deliver returns. Adding to the week’s momentum, Fed officials are poised to announce their rate decision on Wednesday, with Wall Street largely betting on a quarter-point cut.
“There is positive news everywhere,” said Vey-Sern Ling, a managing director at Union Bancaire Privee.
The technology sector remains the key focus of market participants. Over Wednesday and Thursday, Microsoft Corp., Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc. will all report results. The so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’ group is projected to deliver profit growth of 14% in the third quarter, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.
That’s nearly twice the 8% expected profit growth for the broader S&P 500, but it also would be the slowest pace since the first quarter of 2023.
“We expect another strong round of megacap tech earnings reports, given the relentless demand for AI technology and infrastructure,” said Clark Bellin at Bellwether Wealth. “While profitability in AI remains an unknown, investors for now are willing to overlook this as the AI arms race heats up.”
What Bloomberg strategists say…
A spending boom for AI has sent the Magnificent Seven’s share prices to record highs, but is also raising concerns about whether companies are laying out too much on the new technology.
— Sebastian Boyd, MLIV strategist. Click here for the full analysis.
In other corners of the market, the yen gained after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent weighed in on the Bank of Japan’s policy space, which fueled rate-hike bets. A gauge of the dollar edged lower for a third day. Oil held a three-day drop amid mounting signs of oversupply, while gold inched up after three days of losses.
Trading in Hong Kong was closed for a holiday.
Meanwhile, Trump said he expects to lower tariffs the US imposed on Chinese goods over the fentanyl crisis and speak with Xi about Nvidia, as leaders of the world’s biggest economies seek to ease tensions in a meeting on Thursday.
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday Trump was considering cutting the 20% tariff to 10% on Chinese goods over fentanyl.
Also buoying sentiment were bets the Fed will cut rates Wednesday, with traders hoping for clarity as to when officials will stop shrinking the central bank’s portfolio of securities. Bets have grown they may end quantitative tightening as soon as this month.
Expectations are set for two things from this week’s Fed meeting — officials will lower rates by a quarter percentage point and Chair Jerome Powell will offer little guidance as a growing divide among policymakers blurs the path ahead.
“The markets have a massive wall of event risk to scale this week,” wrote Kyle Rodda, a senior analyst at Capital.com in Melbourne.
Corporate News:
OpenAI is giving its long-time backer Microsoft Corp. a 27% ownership stake as part of a restructuring plan that took nearly a year to negotiate. Private equity firm Boyu Capital has emerged as the frontrunner in Starbucks Corp.’s search for a partner in its China business. Apple Inc. is preparing major changes to its MacBook Air, iPad mini and iPad Air lines, with a plan to give the popular devices higher-end displays. Visa Inc. reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that topped estimates as consumers continued to swipe, tap and insert their credit cards to transact globally. Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. said profit rose 11.5% in the first nine months of this year, as a stock market rally lifted investment returns and policy sales expanded. Bank of China Ltd. reported a 5% increase in third-quarter profit, as the lender managed to stabilize its net interest margin despite mounting challenges from weakening credit demand. Some of the main moves in markets:
Stocks
S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% as of 11:49 a.m. Tokyo time Nikkei 225 futures (OSE) rose 1.8% Japan’s Topix was little changed Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.9% The Shanghai Composite rose 0.3% Euro Stoxx 50 futures fell 0.2% Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed The euro was little changed at $1.1645 The Japanese yen was little changed at 152.06 per dollar The offshore yuan was little changed at 7.0990 per dollar Cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin fell 0.1% to $112,680.48 Ether rose 0.5% to $4,001.03 Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries was little changed at 3.98% Japan’s 10-year yield advanced one basis point to 1.650% Australia’s 10-year yield advanced five basis points to 4.22% Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude fell 0.2% to $60.02 a barrel Spot gold rose 0.2% to $3,958.79 an ounce This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation.
Amazon’s international operations are accelerated by U.S.-based engineering, R&D, legal, finance, and other support teams, creating thousands of high-paying jobs across the country. The global operations also fund new American jobs and infrastructure, and can be reinvested in American innovation. This virtuous cycle helps drive increased demand for American products and services, further supporting investments in U.S. manufacturing and technology.
Honda is presenting the world premiere of the prototype of the Honda 0 α (alpha), a new SUV model for the Honda 0 Series. Featuring a sleek and sophisticated design unique to Honda 0 Series and original proportions that express the dynamic nature of SUVs, the Honda 0 α will blend beautifully with both urban and natural environments, supporting people’s lives in every situation.
By applying packaging design based on the “Thin” approach, styling with a low vehicle height was achieved without compromising ground clearance, creating a thin cabin that still offers a spacious and comfortable space for occupants.
Honda is planning to begin global sales of the production model of Honda 0 α, mainly in Japan and India, in 2027. With this “gateway model” to the Honda 0 Series, Honda will strive to offer new value to a greater number of customers around the world.
In Japan, three Honda 0 Series models — Honda 0 Saloon, Honda 0 SUV, and Honda 0 α —will go on sale before the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2028.
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
SK Hynix said it has already sold next year’s production of semiconductors as the leading supplier of advanced memory chips to Nvidia posted record profits on the back of an artificial intelligence boom.
Operating profit in the third quarter jumped 62 per cent year on year to a record Won11.4tn ($8bn), in line with analyst forecasts compiled by LSEG SmartEstimate. Revenue rose 39 per cent to Won22.4tn, driven by surging demand for memory chips used in AI data centres, the company said on Wednesday.
The South Korean chipmaker said it expected its inventory for conventional dynamic random-access memory chips, which enable short-term data storage when a device is being used, was “extremely tight”. It added that cutting-edge high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to continue to outstrip supply as use of AI applications broadens.
“With the innovation of AI technology, the memory market has shifted to a new paradigm and demand has begun to spread to all product areas,” said chief financial officer Kim Woo-hyun.
Optimism for SK Hynix’s business outlook intensified after the company, along with rival Samsung Electronics, signed a preliminary agreement with OpenAI this month to supply semiconductors for the ChatGPT maker’s $500bn Stargate data centre project.
SK Hynix said its estimate for demand from the project was more than double the industry’s current HBM capacity and that it would set up a production system to meet OpenAI’s demand.
The chipmaker said it had completed HBM supply negotiations with other key customers for next year and would “substantially increase” capital expenditure as a result. It will begin supplying its most advanced HBM4 chips in the fourth quarter of this year.
“HBM demand continues to increase rapidly, so it will be difficult for supply to meet demand any time soon,” said Kim Ki-tae, head of HBM sales and marketing.
SK Hynix makes up more than half of the global HBM market, while Samsung accounts for just over a quarter, with US-based Micron, the other leading company in the sector, according to consultancy TrendForce.
The company’s competitive edge in HBM has helped triple its share price this year, making SK Hynix one of South Korea’s best-performing stocks. Its shares rose 4 per cent on Wednesday.
SK Hynix said the AI market’s shift to inference — the process by which applications such as chatbots produce responses — had increased demand for high-performance AI server chips.
“We project AI inference memory demand to expand not only in the US but also in China as Chinese hyperscalers are expected to push for AI inference investment,” Citi analysts said in a recent report.
Samsung is expected to post its biggest quarterly profit in three years when it reports on Thursday.
“With AI as the major driver, we’re expecting the HBM market to continue growing steeply over the next few years to around $43bn by 2027, giving strong earnings leverage to memory manufacturers like SK,” said MS Hwang, research director at Counterpoint Research.
Creative thinking is a core skill that is set to become even more critical by 2030. Auckland is home to 50 per cent of New Zealand’s creative workforce and earlier this year, the Te Puna Creative Hub in Te Kōpua Henderson was opened by Auckland Council and Te Kawerau ā Maki, recognising the enormous growth potential of West Auckland’s creative industries, from film to music and gaming.
Microsoft is proud to be partnering with the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) – Te Pūkenga, Auckland Council, and with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) also supporting the initiative, to launch creative technology micro-credentials that boost the sector’s talent pipeline and provides opportunities for those based in West Auckland to enter the creative sector.
With West Auckland being one of the most diverse regions of New Zealand, these training programmes are focused on supporting students and teachers, adults and job seekers.
Over the course of 6 months local teachers in secondary schools and kura kaupapa (Māori immersion schools) in West Auckland will learn how to enable students to create informed, ethical, and quality social media content. Focused on digital storytelling, students will learn how to use disruptive technologies, different digital platforms, how to use AI for research, planning and streaming video content and the ethical considerations that go along with creating digital media. Students that participate in this learning have the opportunity to earn NCEA credits.
Furthermore, to ensure accessibility to all students across kura kaupapa and schools, all training resources will be translated into te reo Māori.
According to Gus Gilmore, Chief Executive of NZIST: “Creative tech is a growing industry and a key skill needed in the workforce. These programmes are designed to unlock creativity, build confidence, and prepare our community – teachers, lifelong learners and beyond – for the opportunities of a digital future. Creative technology is where imagination meets innovation. It’s coding a game that tells our stories, producing videos that amplify our voices, or designing solutions that solve real-world challenges.”
Adults are also supported through the launch of a new micro-credential in collaboration with NZIST.
The micro-credential will support life-long learners in West Auckland who are looking to return to the workforce or to upskill and unlock new opportunities in the creative sector.
Under the programme, each learner will be paired with an employer, receiving training remotely at home and on site at Te Puna Creative Hub in Henderson, while working on a real-world project. Over 12 weeks they will also explore areas such as digital creative tools, learn how to use Microsoft Copilot for research, ideation, and scriptwriting, and understand the ethical considerations in assisted content creation such as bias in AI generated text and imagery.
Through the partnership between Microsoft and NZIST, this micro-credential means that life-long learners will benefit from enhanced employment opportunities and in-demand skills, keeping pace with the latest technology.
With the support of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), we’re ensuring these opportunities reach a wide range of learners who will be able to apply their existing knowledge, or even re-skill entirely, to the creative technology pathway.
As technology transforms creative industries, we’re excited to help grow the capabilities of the local creative sector ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate.
This is only the start. Digital technology is a powerful enabler, but it also has the potential to leave people behind unless efforts are made to bring everyone along on the journey.
We recognise the importance of empowering community members with future-ready skills, so they prepared for the opportunities of tomorrow.
We’re proud of what we are achieving with these programmes, and ensuring we are delivering meaningful local, economic and social, benefits in the communities where we build and operate our datacenters.
American Bitcoin (ABTC) shares slipped 5% Tuesday, catching the attention of investors as trading volumes remained steady. Given this move, many are curious about what may be driving the sudden adjustment in the stock’s price.
See our latest analysis for American Bitcoin.
American Bitcoin’s share price has certainly been on a rollercoaster lately. After a sharp 16.6% share price return in the past week, Tuesday’s 4.7% dip stands out and reflects the market’s ongoing debate over its true value. Looking at the year-to-date share price return of -11.4%, momentum appears to be struggling to build, even as the market reacts to every twist and turn.
If you’re wondering what other fast-moving stocks investors are watching right now, it’s the perfect chance to discover fast growing stocks with high insider ownership
With such volatile swings and a lack of strong momentum, is American Bitcoin trading at an appealing discount? Alternatively, are investors already factoring in any future upside into today’s price, leaving little room for a bargain?
With American Bitcoin’s latest closing price of $5.68, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 31.8x stands in the spotlight, especially for those comparing it to both industry and peer averages. This figure gives investors a snapshot of what the market is willing to pay for each dollar of the company’s earnings.
The P/E ratio is a widely used metric for valuing companies like American Bitcoin, particularly in the software sector. It reflects the relationship between share price and per-share earnings and offers insight into how the market values the company’s profitability and growth potential relative to its stock price.
American Bitcoin’s P/E ratio of 31.8x is slightly lower than the broader US software industry average of 33.9x. This suggests the stock is not being priced at a significant premium within its sector. However, this multiple is notably higher compared to its peer average of 18.8x, which could indicate the market has elevated expectations for American Bitcoin or is pricing in more future growth than its peers. Yet, it remains debated whether the current earnings growth profile and risks fully justify this premium.
See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.
Result: Price-to-Earnings of 31.8x (ABOUT RIGHT)
However, uncertainty around American Bitcoin’s actual earnings quality and a lack of visible revenue growth could present challenges to the bull case in the near term.
Find out about the key risks to this American Bitcoin narrative.
If you have your own perspective or want to explore American Bitcoin’s numbers firsthand, you can quickly analyze and build your personal view in minutes. Do it your way
A great starting point for your American Bitcoin research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 3 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
Opportunities like these do not wait for anyone. Set yourself up for success by acting now and tapping into unique stock themes handpicked using the Simply Wall Street Screener.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include ABTC.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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Life sciences group Thermo Fisher is nearing a takeover of drug trial software maker Clario in a deal that could value the healthcare technology group at approximately $10bn.
The all-cash deal could be announced as early as Wednesday provided it does not hit any last-minute snags, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The acquisition would give Thermo Fisher access to a platform that is playing an increasingly critical role in managing the clinical data essential to drug trials. Clario’s technology has been used across 26,000 trials in more than 100 countries, generating as much as $400mn a year in adjusted earnings.
If a sale materialises, it would mark one of the biggest full private equity exits of the year.
Founded in 2021 by a merger of health tech groups ERT and Bioclinica, Clario is majority owned by Stockholm-based private equity group Nordic Capital. It also counts Astorg Partners, Novo Holdings and Cinven as minority investors. Clario’s private equity backers had until recently been considering a public listing for the group.
Thermo Fisher, Clario, Nordic, Astorg, Novo Holdings and Cinven did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The deal would mark Thermo Fisher’s biggest acquisition since 2021 when the Massachusetts-based group bought contract research organisation PPD in a deal worth $17.4bn. Earlier this year, Thermo Fisher struck a $4.1bn deal to buy Solventum’s filtration unit.
It comes amid a volatile period for Thermo Fisher and the wider healthcare sector. Shares in Thermo Fisher dropped earlier this year as investors fretted over the impact of President Donald Trump’s cuts to the National Institutes of Health on its sales, but they have since rallied.
Thermo Fisher shares are up 6 per cent this year, giving it a market capitalisation of $210bn.
