OpenAI announces slowing pace of development after hack by rogue agent
OpenAI on Tuesday said it had slowed down the pace of its AI development while it overhauled its research and training systems.
Regulation
‘Can’t enjoy your pint’: Wetherspoons customers welcome ban on loud phones
The terrace of the Moon Under Water Wetherspoons pub in Leicester Square was full of people enjoying the warm weather and chatting between tables – without a TikTok video or speakerphone call in earshot.
SEC Proposes New Regulation Crypto Assets
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it proposed new rules, titled “Regulation Crypto Assets,” that would create a clear and fit-for-purpose framework for certain investment contracts involving cr…
Oil prices jump after US-Iran ceasefire expires and Trump threatens Oman
Brent crude rises above $90 a barrel for the first time since 30 July after US president tells Tehran to surrender
‘A feudal relationship’: Stonegate Pub Partners under scrutiny after complaints of tenant mistreatment
“We’re pleased to welcome Stonegate Pub Partners as a sponsor for the Great British Pub Awards 2026” read a post on the event’s Facebook page. Within minutes it had backfired.
Labour urges Gambling Commission to investigate firms linked to Reform UK donors
The Gambling Commission has been urged to investigate claims that companies linked to Reform UK donors and allies of Nigel Farage have been operating without a licence.
UK risks running out of gas by 2030s, ministers told
Great Britain risks running out of gas in the 2030s despite its growing clean energy sources, unless ministers take “unprecedented” action to guard against a future supply shock, according to an official assessment.
Job vacancies at five-year low as smaller firms scale back recruitment
The number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in more than five years as smaller businesses cut back on recruitment, official figures indicate.
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley tightens hold on Hugo Boss
The retail billionaire Mike Ashley has signalled that his summer shopping spree may be far from over, after he increased his stake in Hugo Boss to nearly half. Ashley’s Frasers Group, which last week bought the Harvey N…
FCA bans senior manager for lack of honesty and integrity
The FCA has banned Howard Roland Duckett from working in financial services due to a serious lack of honesty and integrity.
Half of homes in Great Britain taking longer to sell than last year amid mortgage volatility
Half of homes in Great Britain are taking longer to sell than last year as volatile conditions in the mortgage market amid the Iran war prompt buyers to “wait and see” if they can get a better deal, according to a repor…
Top economists urge Burnham to sign UK up to UN initiative on global inequality
Forty prominent progressive academics are urging Andy Burnham’s government to join a new global push to tackle inequality.
Ministers drop plan to relax affordable housing rules after rural homes backlash
Ministers have dropped plans to relax affordable housing rules for developers in England after a backlash from housing experts who warned it could drastically cut the number of cheaper homes available in rural areas.
Five things to watch in markets in the week ahead
Investing.com - The ongoing war in Iran is tipped to be front and center for investors this week, as markets fret over the impact of the fighting on energy prices and global assets. A flash reading of U.S. business acti…
Fed policy stance keeps Treasury yields high, says Citadel Securities
The S&P 500 edged up 0.02% on Monday, while U.S. crude slumped 7.5%. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped four basis points. The drop in oil prices provided little boost to risk assets.
Thom Yorke, Romy and Brian Eno among 200 musicians urging PM to reject new North Sea drilling
More than 200 musicians including Massive Attack and Brian Eno have written to Andy Burnham urging him to reject plans for more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
China’s economy showing signs that slowdown may be extending
China’s economy is showing signs of extending a slowdown with a slump in industrial output and retail sales in July, adding to pressure on Beijing to intervene with measures to support activity.
Sainsbury’s store pauses AI scanning after false shoplifting accusation
Sainsbury’s has paused the use of AI face scanning in one of its stores after a customer was wrongly identified as a shoplifter and ejected from the shop.
Senior Russian banker fired after scathing speech on wartime economy
The chief economist at Russia’s second-largest bank has been fired after a series of critical comments about the state of the economy, including warnings that Moscow would not win a prolonged economic war with Ukraine.
Virgin Trains gets go ahead to run services to Europe in new blow to Eurostar monopoly
Operator wins track access approval for up to 20 daily return trains through tunnel to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in 2030
Bets on imminent Fed rate hike fade; retail earnings ahead - what’s moving markets
Coffee is one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages and a significant agricultural commodity. It’s cultivated in tropical regions and primarily comes in two varieties: Arabica, valued for its smooth flavour and …
Philip R. Lane: The rise in defence spending and the euro area economy
In response to great-power rivalry and the weaponization of interdependence, the EU has adopted a geopolitical approach to economic statecraft. To build resilience and maintain its international credibility, the union w…
FCA expands global presence with new attachés in India and UAE
These appointments expand the FCA's global presence, joining a global network that includes the FCA's existing attachés in Washington DC, Brussels and Singapore, as well as the Asia-Pacific, supporting international co-…
Asking prices for newly listed homes in UK’s richest borough fall by £100k in one month
The average price of a home coming up for sale in Britain’s richest borough has dropped by almost £100,000 in a month as fierce competition among sellers in many areas prompts some to slash their price expectations, dat…