The UK Government will guarantee a £1.5 billion loan to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in response to the cyber-attack that forced the carmaker to halt production.
An Export Development Guarantee, administered by UK Export Finance, will back a commercial bank loan repaid over five years to stabilise JLR’s finances and protect its supply chain.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the attack as a strike on the UK’s automotive sector and said the guarantee would safeguard jobs across the West Midlands, Merseyside and beyond.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves called JLR a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UK economy, stressing that the package would protect tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly linked to the manufacturer.
JLR employs 34,000 people in the UK and supports an automotive supply chain of 120,000 workers, many in SMEs.
The guarantee forms part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which includes backing for electric vehicle adoption, reduced energy costs for manufacturers, and multi-billion-pound commitments to research and development.
An announcement follows ministerial visits to JLR headquarters and supplier Webasto, with ministers promising to keep working with industry leaders to get production back online and strengthen Britain’s automotive resilience.
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Apple and Google have urged the European Union to revisit its Digital Markets Act, arguing the law is damaging users and businesses.
Apple said the rules have forced delays to new features for European customers, including live translation on AirPods and improvements to Apple Maps. It warned that competition requirements could weaken security and slow innovation without boosting the EU economy.
Google raised concerns that its search results must now prioritise intermediary travel sites, leading to higher costs for consumers and fewer direct sales for airlines and hotels. It added that AI services may arrive in Europe up to a year later than elsewhere.
Both firms stressed that enforcement should be more consistent and user-focused. The European Commission is reviewing the Act, with formal submissions under consideration.
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The centre will promote digital RMB internationalisation, support digital finance innovation, and enhance financial market services. It forms part of eight measures announced earlier this year by PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng at the Lujiazui Forum.
Three major platforms have been unveiled alongside the launch: a digital payment system for international use, a blockchain service platform, and a digital asset platform.
These platforms aim to broaden the application of digital technologies in finance and improve transaction efficiency.
Experts, including Tian Xuan of Tsinghua University, describe the initiative as a milestone for China’s role in global finance, strengthening its influence in shaping the future of digital payments.
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LinkedIn will use member profile data to train its AI systems by default from 3 November 2025. The policy, already in place in the US and select markets, will now extend to more regions, mainly for 18+ users who prefer not to share their information and must opt out manually via account settings.
According to LinkedIn, the types of data that may be used include account details, email addresses, payment and subscription information, and service-related data such as IP addresses, device IDs, and location information.
Once disabled, profiles will no longer be added to AI training, although information collected earlier may remain in the system. Users can request the removal of past data through a Data Processing Objection Form.
Meta and X have already adopted similar practices in the US, allowing their platforms to use user-generated posts for AI training. LinkedIn insists its approach complies with privacy rules but leaves the choice in members’ hands.
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The stablecoin will leverage blockchain technology to provide a trusted digital payment standard across Europe. The digital currency will enable fast, low-cost, 24/7 payments, cross-border settlements, and more efficient digital asset and supply chain management.
Its introduction is expected in the second half of 2026, with regulatory oversight from the Dutch Central Bank as an e-money institution.
The initiative aims to create a European alternative to US-dominated stablecoins, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in payments. Banks can offer services like stablecoin wallets and custody, boosting adoption and innovation in financial services.
Floris Lugt, Digital Assets lead at ING, highlighted the importance of collaboration: ‘Digital payments can bring transparency and efficiency through blockchain’s programmability and instant settlement. An industry-wide approach is essential, and banks must adopt common standards to succeed.’
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The UK’s ministers are considering an unprecedented intervention after a cyberattack forced Jaguar Land Rover to halt production, leaving thousands of suppliers exposed to collapse.
A late August hack shut down JLR’s IT networks and forced the suspension of its UK factories. Industry experts estimate losses of more than £50m a week, with full operations unlikely to restart until October or later.
JLR, owned by India’s Tata Motors, had not finalised cyber insurance before the breach, which left it particularly vulnerable.
Officials are weighing whether to buy and stockpile car parts from smaller firms that depend on JLR, though logistical difficulties make the plan complex. Government-backed loans are also under discussion.
Cybersecurity agencies, including the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency, are now supporting the investigation.
The attack is part of a wider pattern of major breaches targeting UK institutions and retailers, with a group calling itself Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters claiming responsibility.
A growing threat that highlights how the country’s critical industries remain exposed to sophisticated cybercriminals, raising questions about resilience and the need for stronger digital defences.
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The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced a new initiative to allow tokenised collateral, including stablecoins, in derivatives markets.
Acting Chairman Pham said the move follows the February 2025 Crypto CEO Forum and advances the President’s Working Group report. The aim is to modernise collateral management, improve capital efficiency, and strengthen blockchain’s role in US financial markets.
Industry leaders said stablecoins like USDC can lower costs, unlock liquidity, and offer round-the-clock market access. Circle, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Ripple, and Tether praised the CFTC for providing clear rules on valuation, custody, and settlement for tokenised collateral.
Stablecoins are seen as a key part of modern finance, offering faster settlement, deeper liquidity, and greater market resilience. Experts said the initiative will strengthen US leadership in financial innovation and improve institutional efficiency and transparency.
The CFTC is inviting public feedback on the use of tokenised collateral, including stablecoins, in derivatives markets. Submissions will help shape regulations, pilot programmes, and advisory committee recommendations.
Comments can be submitted through the CFTC website until 20 October 2025, with all contributions published online.
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Microsoft has added Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 to Copilot Studio, giving users more control over model selection for orchestration, workflow automation, and reasoning tasks.
The integration allows customers to design and optimise AI agents with either Anthropic or OpenAI models, or even coordinate across both. Administrators can manage access through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, with automatic fallback to OpenAI GPT-4o if Anthropic models are disabled.
Anthropic’s models are available in early release environments now, with preview access across all environments expected within two weeks and full production readiness by the end of the year.
Microsoft said the move empowers businesses to tailor AI agents more precisely to industry-specific needs, from HR onboarding to compliance management.
By enabling multi-model orchestration, Copilot Studio extends its versatility for enterprises seeking to match the right AI model to each task, underlining Microsoft’s push to position Copilot as a flexible platform for agentic AI.
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US tech giant Apple has called for the repeal of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, claiming the rules undermine user privacy, disrupt services, and erode product quality.
The company urged the Commission to replace the legislation with a ‘fit for purpose’ framework, or hand enforcement to an independent agency insulated from political influence.
Apple argued that the Act’s interoperability requirements had delayed the rollout of features in the EU, including Live Translation on AirPods and iPhone mirroring. Additionally, the firm accused the Commission of adopting extreme interpretations that created user vulnerabilities instead of protecting them.
Brussels has dismissed those claims. A Commission spokesperson stressed that DMA compliance is an obligation, not an option, and said the rules guarantee fair competition by forcing dominant platforms to open access to rivals.
A dispute that intensifies long-running friction between US tech firms and the EU regulators.
Apple has already appealed to the courts, with a public hearing scheduled in October, while Washington has criticised the bloc’s wider digital policy.
A clash has deepened transatlantic trade tensions, with the White House recently threatening tariffs after fresh fines against another American tech company.
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Autonomous logistics firm Gatik is set to expand its partnership with Loblaw, deploying 50 new self-driving trucks across North America over the next year. The move marks the largest autonomous truck deployment in the region to date.
The slow rollout of self-driving technology has frustrated supply chain watchers, with most firms still testing limited fleets. Gatik’s large-scale deployment signals a shift toward commercial adoption, with 20 trucks to be added by the end of 2025 and an additional 30 by 2026.
The partnership was enabled by Ontario’s Autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicle Pilot Program, a ten-year initiative allowing approved operators to test automated commercial trucks on public roads. Officials hope it will boost road safety and support the trucking sector.
Industry analysts note that North America’s truck driver shortage is one of the most pressing logistics challenges facing the region. Nearly 70% of logistics firms report that driver shortages hinder their ability to meet freight demand, making automation a viable solution to address this issue.
Gatik, operating in the US and Canada, says the deployment could ease labour pressure and improve efficiency, but safety remains a key concern. Experts caution that striking a balance between rapid rollout and robust oversight will be crucial for establishing trust in autonomous freight operations.
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