Business

Business · 2 October 2026

National's Plan to Turn Kiwibank Into a 'Local‑Money Monster' Stirs Speculation

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The National Party is pushing a new model for Kiwibank that mixes government stakes with private local capital, a scheme that promises a win‑win for the community but may simply become a cash‑cow for investors.

Business · 2 October 2026

BT Pledges £100m Payment Waiver to Rescue TalkTalk Wholesale Arm

Iris Quay, London desk

BT has offered to waive a £100m debt to a private‑equity bidder, sparking a quiet debate about generosity and corporate gymnastics in the telecom sector.

Business · 2 October 2026

AI Harvest Advice: Farmers Debate Whether Robots Can Outwit Their Granny Wisdom

Iris Quay, London desk

In a rural twist, an AI platform offers farmers precise harvest timing, sparking debate over whether machine precision can replace age‑old intuition.

Business · 2 October 2026

Hormuz: Crude Ships Resume Pre‑War Flow While Diesel Still Stuck in a Holding Pattern

Iris Quay, London desk

With crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz back to pre‑war levels thanks to a network of detours, refined product shipments, especially diesel, remain constrained, leaving global markets watching the Gulf’s ship…

Business · 2 October 2026

Data Centre Dilemma: North Ayrshire's New Server Farm Faces Heritage Hysteria

Iris Quay, London desk

A proposed data‑centre in North Ayrshire has sparked a clash between tech developers and local conservationists, with claims that the facility would wreck heritage sites and wildlife habitats.

Business · 2 October 2026

CFTC Opens Robust Inquiry into Adam Kinzinger’s Kalshi Pardon‑Betting Gambit

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched a robust probe into former congressman Adam Kinzinger’s pre‑pardon wagers on the Kalshi platform, a move that has turned political gambling into the latest headli…

Business · 2 October 2026

Trump’s Diesel Ban Threat Sends Global Markets on a One‑Way Ticket

Noor Hale, World desk

The U.S. president’s possible export ban on diesel has set fuel‑price charts to the moon, turning refineries into the new playground for speculative traders and leaving logistics managers wondering if their trucks wi…

Business · 2 October 2026

Bookmakers’ Black‑Market Paradox: ‘Dangers of Rogue Casinos’ Turns into Profitable Offshore Deal

Iris Quay, London desk

Three of London’s biggest betting houses, known for warning against offshore gambling, quietly inked a lucrative contract with a notorious casino network, turning their moral crusade into a money‑making manoeuvre.

Business · 2 October 2026

Vape Tax Enters the Square Mile, but Your Puff Still Won’t Cost a Penny More

Iris Quay, London desk

The government has rolled out a new tax on vaping products, but retailers are holding off on price hikes, leaving consumers puffing in perplexity as the City watches.