Good morning friends and Fortune readers.
A holiday-shortened week wraps up for most of us today, but the business news flow is still coming in pretty strong. A lot of the chatter has been about the latest funding round for Uber, and now there’s news coming of possible problems for Google across the pond. It’s a regular trading day on the markets, but U.S. stock markets will be closed on Thursday and will shut early, at 1 p.m. ET, on Friday. Here’s what else you need to know about today.
1. Samsung sells, and buys
Tech giant Samsung is buying back around $2 billion worth of shares, according to Bloomberg. This news comes on the heels of the firm’s announcement that it is selling stakes in its chemicals and defense businesses.
2. Google in Europe’s crosshairs?
Later Wednesday, the EU is set to debate a proposal to unbundle Internet search engines from other commercial services those websites might offer, according to reports. The move follows a report that the European Parliament, concerned over Google’s (GOOG) growing influence, wants the U.S. search giant to be broken up. The U.S. has expressed concern over the process.
3. More action in Hong Kong
The protests in Hong Kong have heated up again. Today, police and court-appointed bailiffs cleared another one of the sites occupied by pro-democracy protesters, arresting 116 people, including a number of the students who have led the two-month protest.
4. New emissions standards coming
President Obama will be introducing new emissions today designed to cut back on emissions of ozone, which can cause myriad medical problems. The new standards are broad and expected to be contentious, according to the New York Times.
5. Netflix files a lawsuit
Streaming video company Netflix (NFLX) is suing a former executive, now working at Yahoo (YHOO), alleging he accepted kickbacks while at the company. Mike Kail, who was Netflix’s vice president of information technology operations, is being accused of fraud and breaching his fiduciary duties, according to re/code.
