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G7 finance ministers and allied economies are pushing to lessen global dependence on Chinese rare earths. The 10-nation meeting in Washington signalled growing consensus that critical minerals are not just trade goods but strategic assets. Governments are now exploring joint financing models and market coordination to support non-Chinese producers.
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Alphabet reached a $4 trillion valuation for the first time. The milestone reflects investor confidence in its AI strategy and partnerships. Alphabet’s record high reinforces its position among the world’s most valuable companies, underscoring the renewed strength of its cloud and AI divisions.
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SME confidence rises as outlook weakens for wider economy. Despite worsening sentiment around the UK and Ireland’s economic outlook, small and medium-sized business leaders are backing their own ability to grow, according to new data from Vistage’s latest CEO Confidence Survey.
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Spectralink’s new S1000 IP-DECT platform simplifies voice connectivity. The cloud-ready system allows enterprises to deploy reliable communications across large sites within hours, addressing persistent gaps in frontline coverage where Wi-Fi is unreliable or insufficient.
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UK finance leaders are regaining confidence in AI. Deloitte’s latest UK CFO Survey shows 59% of CFOs more optimistic about AI’s potential to boost performance, up from 39% last quarter. Risk appetite remains subdued, but digital investment and productivity expectations are strengthening into 2026.
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Paul Bryce appointed CEO of Communicate Technology for growth. The Teesside-based firm aims to expand its cybersecurity and IT network solutions. Backed by private equity, it has achieved significant growth and plans further scaling under Bryce’s leadership.
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Meta buys Manus in a landmark AI agency deal worth over $2bn. The Singapore-based startup’s general-purpose agent technology could redefine how AI works — but success depends on whether Meta can turn autonomy into measurable business value.
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Ofcom contacts xAI over Grok’s image-generation capabilities. The UK regulator is investigating claims that the AI tool can create sexualised images of children and non-consensual explicit images of women, potentially breaching the UK’s Online Safety Act.
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UK unveils £210m Cyber Action Plan to enhance digital security. The initiative aims to safeguard critical public services from increasing cyber threats, overseen by a new Government Cyber Unit to coordinate defences and enforce accountability across departments.
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Octopus Energy will spin off Kraken tech platform Kraken at $8.65bn valuation. The demerger reflects growing investor appetite for utility software, with the platform set to become an independent company backed by global institutions. The move marks a new chapter in UK energy tech.