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Pentagon Confirms It Has Stopped Using Anthropic's AI Tools After Blacklisting the Company
The Pentagon has confirmed it is no longer using Anthropic's AI tools, closing out a bitter dispute that began when the defence department demanded the company strip safety guardrails from its Claude models — and Anthropic refused.

Paramount Completes $110 Billion Warner Bros Takeover to Form Hollywood Giant Skydance
Paramount Skydance has closed its blockbuster $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, uniting two of Hollywood's biggest studios under the new Skydance banner after a bruising bidding war and antitrust fight.

Average Five-Year Mortgage Rate Hits 6% for First Time in Three Years
The average five-year fixed mortgage rate has climbed to 6% — its highest level in three years — while the number of sub-5% deals on the market has collapsed from nearly 1,500 to just nine in a single month.

BT Agrees £400 Million Rescue Deal to Buy TalkTalk Out of Administration
BT Group has struck a £400 million deal to rescue TalkTalk from administration, taking on its 2.5 million customers and 900 staff. The takeover still needs competition approval, with the government reserving the final say on public-interest grounds.

US Jobs Market Slows Sharply as Employers Add Just 29,000 Jobs in September
US employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, with unemployment rising to 4.2%, handing the White House a weak economic headline a month before the midterms.

OpenAI Fires Three Researchers for 'Mishandling Sensitive Information'
OpenAI has fired three researchers, two in safety roles, for mishandling sensitive information — as questions grow over the industry's ability to police itself.

G7 Agrees Emergency Release of 100 Million Barrels of Oil and Diesel After Trump Export Threat
G7 nations agreed an emergency release of 100 million barrels of oil and diesel to calm fuel markets after Donald Trump threatened to halt US diesel exports to Europe.

Sir David Beckham Secures £38.5 Million Dividend from World Cup Ad Deals
Sir David Beckham has reportedly secured a substantial £38.5 million dividend from his involvement in World Cup advertising deals, paid out by DRJB Holdings. This significant sum represents almost half of the company's total £85.5 million dividend payments, underscoring Beckham's enduring commercial power and strategic business acumen.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Doubles Down on "High-Fare Rapists" Remark, Igniting Industry Debate
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has once again ignited a firestorm within the European aviation sector, defending his recent characterization of certain competitors as "high-fare rapists" in remarks that underscore the intense pricing pressures and philosophical divides currently gripping the industry. This latest verbal broadside not only highlights O'Leary's long-standing penchant for provocative rhetoric but also brings into sharp focus the complex economic realities facing both airlines and passengers amidst a challenging post-pandemic recovery and inflationary environment.

China Announces $53.6bn Capital Injection for State Banks and Insurers
China is injecting 360 billion yuan, or about $53.6bn, into eight state-owned banks and insurance companies as Beijing seeks to strengthen financial stability and support the economy amid slower growth, weak domestic demand, property-market pressures and ongoing trade tensions with the US.

European Central Banks Move Gold From North America Amid Rising Global Uncertainty
European central banks are reassessing where they store their gold reserves as geopolitical and economic uncertainty grows. The Netherlands recently moved 86 tonnes from the United States and Canada to London, while France and Germany have also relocated portions of their reserves.

US-Canada Trade War: 5 Charts Show How Tariffs Are Reshaping Both Economies
The US-Canada trade war is increasingly affecting manufacturing, jobs, exports and consumer costs on both sides of the border. Ontario has faced significant pressure from US tariffs, while Canada's retaliatory measures are affecting several American states. Canada is also trying to reduce its dependence on the US by expanding exports to other markets, even as its economy continues to show signs of resilience.

Canada and US Near Trade Deal as Tariff Tensions Ease
Canada and the United States say they are close to finalising a new trade agreement after days of intense negotiations. The proposed deal could reduce US tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium and vehicles while giving American producers greater access to parts of Canada's market. Both governments say the agreement could provide greater certainty for businesses and strengthen North American trade.
