The US just blacklisted an AI company. Is yours next? March 3, 2026 A government demonstrated in a single week that it can transform a technology company from the sole provider of classified AI services into a designated national security threat, not for what the company did, but for what it refused to allow, says Paul Armstrong Last week, the Trump administration blacklisted Anthropic, a company whose AI [...]
Zurich to leverage Beazley’s Lloyd’s platform for global expansion March 2, 2026 Zurich Insurance Group has reached a formal agreement to acquire FTSE 100 giant Beazley, aiming to create a global leader in speciality insurance. Under the terms of the deal, Beazley shareholders will be entitled to receive a total of 1,335p per Beazley share, which puts the cost of the deal at around $10.9bn (£8.14bn). The [...]
MS Reinsurance announces retirement of Charles Goldie and appointment of Jörg Bruniecki as Chief Underwriting Officer March 2, 2026 Global reinsurer MS Reinsurance (MS Re) today announced that Group Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) Charles Goldie will retire from the company, effective April 1, 2026, after five years in the role. He will continue to support the organization as Senior Advisor to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Wiest. Jörg Bruniecki, currently CUO, Global Specialty Lines, [...]
Exclusive: RFU in talks over back of shirt and short sponsor deals March 2, 2026 The question that hangs over rugby union always seems to be a financial one: how can a sport with successful World Cups, a strong women’s game and a generally affluent audience struggle so much to commercialise itself effectively? That doesn’t seem to be an issue for England and its governing body, the Rugby Football Union. [...]
Global trade at risk as insurers suspend cover following Iran conflict March 2, 2026 More than half of the world’s largest maritime insurance firms are set to cease covering war risks for ships entering the Persian Gulf after conflict broke out in the Gulf region, following the US and Israel’s launch of strikes on Iran on Saturday. As of Thursday, seven members of the City-based International Group of Protection [...]
Private sector to decline but City to buck trend March 2, 2026 Activity in the private sector is forecast to decline over the next three months but firms across business and professional services are set to enjoy their best quarter since 2024, the UK’s leading industry group has said. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has found that most firms expect activity to fall in the next [...]
SES: Full Year 2025 Results March 2, 2026 SES S.A. fully consolidates Intelsat from 17 July 2025 and announces financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025 FY25 Performance (€ million) 2025 as reported (1) 2024 as reported (1) ∆ at constant FX (2) 2025 like-for-like (3) 2024 like-for-like (3) ∆ at constant FX (2) Average €/$ FX rate 1.12 1.09 [...]
Blair think tank turns fire on Labour over wage hikes and tax squeeze March 1, 2026 Tony Blair’s think tank has published a critique of Labour’s economic strategy, warning that higher minimum wages, rising employers’ National Insurance and tougher workers’ rights risk choking off growth and pricing young people out of jobs. In a striking intervention from the former Labour prime minister’s own policy institute, the report deems the government’s labour [...]
Top Barclays executive to take the helm at UK banking watchdog February 27, 2026 A senior Barclays executive and former Treasury official has been appointed as the chief supervisor for British banks and insurers, reinforcing the government’s drive to ease regulations brought in after the 2008 financial crisis. Katharine Braddick, head of strategic policy at Barclays and senior adviser to the chief executive, will succeed Sam Woods as the [...]
Universal handed £6m of taxpayer cash to film Hamnet despite raking in profits of £810m February 27, 2026 American filmmaking giant Universal was handed a £5.7 million government subsidy to make period drama Hamnet even though the studio generated £810 million in profit last year. The blockbuster’s cost to taxpayers is revealed in filings for the film which won the coveted honour of Outstanding British Film at the Baftas on Sunday. The heartbreaking [...]