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Business · 3 October 2026

Polymarket’s ‘Banking Doomsday’ Bets Send City into Mild Panic

Iris Quay, London desk

A prediction market has people betting on whether HSBC or Lloyds will collapse, prompting regulators to step in before the City’s nerves turn to panic.

Business · 3 October 2026

Brands Trade Charm for Spreadsheets as AI Butlers Demand Data

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Marketers abandon emotional storytelling and hand out CSVs to convince autonomous shopping bots.

Lighter · 3 October 2026

Eight sweet pictures of ducklings

Picture Desk

Eight sweet pictures of ducklings. A quiet list, with a few words beside each picture and the credit kept.

Business · 3 October 2026

South Kensington Georgian Gilt‑ed Gentrified: Mansions Lose Their Midas Touch, Gain a Coffee‑Shop Discount

Iris Quay, London desk

In a twist of fate, London’s once‑glittering Georgian homes are now the latest victims of a housing market that prefers high‑street café prices to grandiose façades.

Business · 3 October 2026

Suppliers Threaten City’s Warmth as Energy Bills Rise to New Heights

Iris Quay, London desk

Energy suppliers stage protest outside Bank of England, demanding swift government action to curb soaring household bills, while the City’s elite scramble to keep the lights on.

Business · 3 October 2026

BT’s ‘Silent Switch’: Pausing Broadband to Push Digital Landlines—Customers Feel Like They’re on a Silent Date

Iris Quay, London desk

BT has been accused of temporarily cutting customers’ broadband to pressure them into upgrading to its digital landline service, sparking backlash and a wave of online complaints.

World · 3 October 2026

School Protesters Rewrite Parisian Politics, One Baguette at a Time

Pieter Lang, Brussels desk

When a wave of schoolchildren marches on the streets of Paris with signs, the French government feels the chill of a new curriculum: politics, protest and a dash of baguette. The protest, now in its third week, is forcin…

Entertainment · 3 October 2026

George Cheeks to Steer Skydance’s New Streaming Armada

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Following the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, George Cheeks is set to oversee the combined entity's television and streaming operations, with both Paramount+ and HBO Max brands remaining intact.

Technology · 3 October 2026

Apple Locks Down Mac Disks, Labeling AI Agents a 'Substantial' Menace

Rita Knox, Washington desk

Apple has tightened full-disk access permissions on Macs to mitigate risks from AI agents, requiring developers to justify their need for broad file access through a new review process.