When politics hits the checkout: Why more consumers are turning against brands
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025, polarised societies are now one of the top five long-term risks to global stability.
For businesses, this isn't something happening on the sidelines, it's front and centre – and they're most certainly feeling it.
There was a time when taking a stand on social issues helped brands stand out. But now, those same messages can spark major public backlash. Pic: Getty Images
In today's climate, some consumers are making their opinions known with their wallets.
In fact, Ipsos data shows one in four Americans have boycotted a company because of its political stance or reaction to current events.
In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Pic: Shutterstock
Elsewhere, companies are finding more nuanced ways to stay the course. In Europe and Asia, multinationals are still committed to DEI, but they're adapting their messaging to fit local contexts and avoid political flare-ups.
The same balancing act is happening around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). In early 2025, the EU responded to competitiveness concerns by easing sustainability rules, a sign of how economic pressures are now weighing against long-term ESG goals.
Security is also back on the agenda. In Europe, 36% now say it's the EU's top priority.
Across Asia and Latin America, shifting alliances and social pressures are changing how businesses operate and engage with stakeholders. Pic: Getty
This new environment means businesses need to tread carefully, with clear plans for when to speak up, when to stay silent, and how to align their actions with their values and long-term goals.
Ibec's Global Compass report, Navigating Polarisation: Business Leadership in a Fragmented World, dives deeper into how businesses can lead through today's ideological divides – not by avoiding difficult issues, but by learning to navigate them with care and strategy.
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Sunday World
35 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Donald Trump changes stance on road to Ukraine peace after meeting Putin in Alaska
Trump and Putin cite progress but offer no details In a major shift, Trump also said he had agreed with Putin that negotiators should go straight to a peace settlement - not via a ceasefire, as Ukraine and its European allies, until now with U.S. support, have been demanding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would travel to Washington on Monday to discuss next steps, while Kyiv's European allies welcomed Trump's efforts but vowed to back Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Russia, and again urged the U.S. to offer security guarantees for Ukraine. Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed the meeting and said Ukraine must be involved in the negotiations. The Tánaiste said: 'We must remember that Russia remains the aggressor in this conflict, and can end its aggression at any time. President Zelenskyy and his government must be involved in all decisions on how the conflict ends. Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to achieve a just and lasting peace that fully respects international law, including Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, and the inviolability of its borders. The Tánaiste added: 'As a first step, we call on Russia to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine also needs strong and credible security guarantees that will ensure its long-term security. This matters not just for Ukraine but also for Europe's future security. Ireland, with our EU partners, stands ready to impose additional sanctions and maintain firm and coordinated pressure on Russia.' Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters. Trump met Putin for nearly three hours in Alaska on Friday at the first U.S.-Russia summit since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up," Trump posted on Truth Social. Russia's President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Magadan region's Governor Sergei Nosov as he visits the far eastern port city of Magadan on the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, August 16, 2025. Sputnik/Alexey Nikolsky/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. That statement will be welcomed in Moscow, which says it wants a full settlement - not a pause - but that this will be complex because positions are "diametrically opposed". Russia's forces have been gradually advancing for months. The war - the deadliest in Europe for 80 years - has killed or wounded well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts. Before the summit, Trump had said he would not be happy unless a ceasefire was agreed on. But afterwards he said that, after his talks with Zelenskiy, "if all works out, we will then schedule a meeting with President Putin". President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Monday's talks will be held in the White House Oval Office, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance gave the Ukrainian leader a brutal public dressing-down in February, accusing him of ingratitude. Zelenskiy said after a lengthy conversation with Trump following the Alaska summit that he supported the idea of a three-way meeting. "Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace," he wrote on social media. But Putin made no mention of meeting Zelenskiy when speaking to reporters. His aide Yuri Ushakov told the Russian state news agency TASS a three-way summit had not been discussed. Trump and Putin after their joint news conference on Friday. Photo: Kremlin pool photo In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump signalled that he and Putin had discussed land transfers and security guarantees for Ukraine, and had "largely agreed". "I think we're pretty close to a deal," he said, adding: "Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say 'no'." Asked what he would advise Zelenskiy to do, Trump said: "Gotta make a deal." "Look, Russia is a very big power, and they're not," he added. "They're great soldiers." Zelenskiy has underlined the need for security guarantees for Kyiv, to deter Russia from invading again in the future. He said he and Trump had discussed "positive signals from the American side" on taking part. Putin did not signal any movement in Russia's long-held positions on the war, but said he agreed with Trump that Ukraine's security must be "ensured". "I would like to hope that the understanding we have reached will allow us to get closer to that goal and open the way to peace in Ukraine," Putin told a briefing where neither leader took questions. "We expect that Kyiv and the European capitals will perceive all of this in a constructive manner and will not create any obstacles. That they will not attempt to disrupt the emerging progress through provocation or behind-the-scenes intrigue." For Putin, the very fact of sitting down with the U.S. president represented a victory. The Kremlin leader had been ostracised by Western leaders since the start of the war, and just a week earlier had faced a threat of new sanctions from Trump. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at a joint press conference (Jae C Hong/AP) Trump also spoke to European leaders after returning to Washington. Several stressed the need to keep pressure on Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said an end to the war was closer than ever, thanks to Trump, but added: "In the meantime, until (Putin) stops his barbaric assault, we will keep tightening the screws on his war machine with even more sanctions." A statement from the European leaders said that "Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity" and that no limits should be placed on its armed forces or right to seek NATO membership - key Russian demands. Some European politicians and commentators were scathing. "Putin got his red carpet treatment with Trump, while Trump got nothing. As feared: no ceasefire, no peace," Wolfgang Ischinger, German ex-ambassador to the United States, posted on X. "No real progress – a clear 1-0 for Putin – no new sanctions. For the Ukrainians: nothing. For Europe: deeply disappointing." Cold War historian Sergey Radchenko wrote: "Putin is a determined opponent, and, yes, he basically won this round because he got something for nothing. Still, Trump did not sell out Ukraine." Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that, by dropping any focus on a truce, "Trump is taking Russian President Vladimir Putin's position". Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's press conference. Photo: Getty Both Russia and Ukraine carried out overnight air attacks, a daily occurrence in the 3-1/2-year war, while Kyiv said there had been 139 clashes on the front line over the past day. Trump told Fox he would now hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil, but that he might have to "think about it" in two or three weeks. He ended his remarks after the summit by telling Putin: "I'd like to thank you very much, and we'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon." "Next time in Moscow," a smiling Putin responded in English. Trump said he might "get a little heat on that one" but that he could "possibly see it happening."
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Zelenskyy to head to Washington to meet with Trump on Monday
UKRAINIAN LEADER VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy will head to Washington on Monday to discuss 'ending the killing and the war' with US President Donald Trump, he announced today. Zelenskyy said so after holding a call with Trump, during which the US leader informed him about the 'main points' of his talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 'On Monday, I will meet with President Trump in Washington, D.C., to discuss all of the details regarding ending the killing and the war,' Zelenskyy said. 'I am grateful for the invitation.' Zelenskyy said he had a 'long and substantive conversation with Trump', which began as a one-on-one talk. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders later joined the call, officials said. The European leaders said they were ready to intensify sanctions against Russia after Trump briefed them on the summit. Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he was 'encouraged' by Trump's commitment to meet with Zelenskyy. 'We must remember that Russia remains the aggressor in this conflict, and can end its aggression at any time. President Zelenskyy and his government must be involved in all decisions on how the conflict ends,' Harris said, adding that Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to achieve peace. 'Ireland, with our EU partners, stands ready to impose additional sanctions and maintain firm and coordinated pressure on Russia,' he said. 'We must never forget the impact of this war on the people of Ukraine, their enormous suffering, and the generational scars that this war will leave, particularly on so many young people.' Trump remained upbeat, calling the summit 'a great and very successful day in Alaska!' in a Truth Social post. The US president added that European leaders had backed his plan for a new summit. 'It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere ceasefire agreement, which often times do not hold up,' he added. The Washington meeting is set to take place three days after Trump's talks with Putin in Alaska ended with no ceasefire announcement or apparent breakthrough to end Moscow's more than three-year-long invasion. Advertisement Today, the day after the US-Russia summit, Zelenskyy called for Kyiv's European allies to be involved at 'every stage' of talks. He also reiterated that he would be ready for a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin — something that Kyiv has been pushing for but which the Kremlin has been resisting. 'Ukraine emphasises that key issues can be discussed at the level of leaders, and a trilateral format is suitable for this,' Zelenskyy said. Trump confirmed Monday's meeting with Zelenskyy and said he hoped a Trump-Putin-Zelenskyy summit would follow. 'Potentially, millions of people's lives will be saved,' Trump commented. Before the summit, Trump had warned of 'severe consequences' if Russia did not accept a ceasefire. When asked about this by Fox News after the talks, Trump said that 'because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now'. Putin has repeatedly said only a full peace deal could halt the war he ordered in February 2022, which has left tens of thousands dead and widespread destruction in Ukraine. Putin again spoke of addressing the 'root causes' of the conflict at the summit and some analysts said Trump may have conceded ground. The Europeans, who had been wary of the Alaska meeting, held their own talks today and afterwards expressed support for a new summit. Their statement did not mention a ceasefire, just the need for more action to force Russia into 'a just and lasting peace'. 'As long as the killing in Ukraine continues, we stand ready to uphold the pressure on Russia. We will continue to strengthen sanctions and wider economic measures to put pressure on Russia's war economy until there is a just and lasting peace,' they said. The war went on despite the summit. Ukraine announced Saturday that Russia launched 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile during the night. Russia said it had taken two more villages in Ukraine. Trump and Putin emerged from their talks to offer warm words at a 12-minute press briefing but took no questions. 'We're not there yet, but we've made progress. There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump said. He called the meeting 'extremely productive' with 'many points' agreed, but did not offer specifics. © Agence France-Presse
Agriland
5 hours ago
- Agriland
Kerry Dairy Ireland confirms milk price for July supplies
Kerry Dairy Ireland has confirmed the milk price it will pay to its suppliers for July, deciding to reduce its price. The Kerry Dairy Ireland milk price for July milk supplies is 49.03c/L, including VAT, quality and sustainability bonuses. This is down from the is 50.03c/L offered last month for milk supplies in June. The processor said that, based on Kerry Dairy Ireland's average milk solids for July, the milk price return inclusive of VAT, quality and sustainability bonuses is 53.32c/L. At EU standard constituents of 3.40% protein and 4.20% butterfat, the milk price is 53.57c/L, including VAT. In a statement today (Thursday, August 14), Kerry Dairy Ireland said: "Global dairy markets are shifting toward a supply-heavy position, with relatively strong milk output across key production regions outpacing demand growth. "This imbalance is putting some downward pressure on commodity prices." Yesterday, Lakeland Dairies board confirmed that it would pay a price of 48.25c/L (3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein) for July milk in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) which is inclusive of the 0.5c/L Sustainability Incentive Payment. This is a reduction of 1c/L on the price paid in June. In Northern Ireland (NI), a price of 39.3p/L will be paid for milk supplied in July which is also inclusive of the Sustainability Incentive Payment. This is a reduction of 1p/L on the price paid in June. The processor has stated that market prices have declined over the last three to four weeks, driven by a steady increase in global milk supplies and softening demand amid ongoing trade and geopolitical tensions. "Lakeland Dairies will continue to monitor the markets and will endeavour to support our farmers with the best milk price possible in line with market conditions," the company said.
