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The UK regulator has proposed classifying Apple and Google as firms with “strategic market status.” If finalised, the move could bring targeted conduct rules, fines, and broader scrutiny to their 90–100% hold on UK smartphones.
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NatWest Group has announced a five-year partnership with AWS and Accenture. The initiative aims to centralise the bank’s data systems and scale its AI capabilities, supporting faster service delivery and improving risk and regulatory operations across its 20 million customer base.
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Lloyds Bank launches centre for Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets. The centre, based in London, will guide clients in these evolving markets. Lloyds appointed Emily Martin and Gabriella Carden to co-lead the unit, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to sustainability and clean growth strategies….
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Chestnut Carbon secures $210 million credit facility from J.P. Morgan. The facility supports large-scale nature-based carbon removal projects. The deal, underpinned by an agreement with Microsoft, marks a pioneering financing model for the voluntary carbon sector….
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Accelo has acquired UK-based Forecast in an all-share deal. The transaction gives the U.S. PSA firm instant European scale and adds predictive AI scheduling to its CRM-to-cash software stack. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Forecast’s backers include Balderton and Crane.
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Cequence has launched AI Gateway to connect agentic AI. The new product enables enterprises to safely expose applications to AI agents, offering instant, secure API access with no-code integration and real-time oversight.
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UK watchdog to investigate Deloitte’s audits of Glencore. The Financial Reporting Council is examining whether the firm missed red flags around bribery at the miner-trader, whose 2022 guilty pleas triggered record UK penalties. The case adds pressure to the Big Four ahead of incoming audit reform.
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Ambienta acquires Agronova Biotech, marking its first sustainable agriculture investment. The acquisition positions Ambienta to leverage growth opportunities in the biosolutions market, valued at $21 billion, driven by environmental issues and a shift from chemical solutions to biological alternatives….
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Japan and the U.S. struck a surprise tariff accord today. The agreement trims incoming U.S. auto duties on Japanese vehicles to 15 %, down from a planned 25 % escalation, in exchange for a promised US $550 bn investment package aimed at bolstering U.S. supply chains.
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The UK government has signed a new MoU with OpenAI. The ten-word sentence ends here. Ministers say the agreement will let Whitehall pilot GPT‑4o and future AI models across justice, health, and defence, paving the way for possible new data centres and a stronger AI security regime.
