American tech magnate; Oracle co‑founder and long‑time executive, now CTO and executive chairman
Trump has arrived in Beijing with a tech-focused delegation for talks with Xi Jinping. Ratner accompanies the trip to scout for Rush Hour 4 filming locations, while executives from major tech firms are present. The discussions centre on trade, Iran, and Taiwan, with some hints about potential film projects pending outcomes.
Tony Blair has published a 5,700-word essay urging Labour to prioritise policy over personality and return to a “radical centre.” Keir Starmer has rejected major elements of the critique. Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have publicly attacked Blair’s omissions on inequality, leaving the party divided as the June 18 Makerfield by-election and a potential leadership contest approach.
As voters in the UK and US grow disillusioned with traditional leadership, both Prime Minister and President face internal and external pressures. The AI revolution is cited as a new fulcrum for politics, with potential consequences for governance and policy in coming months.
The Ellison family’s Paramount is pushing ahead with its deal to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery, amid heightened scrutiny from the DOJ and state attorneys general. Regulators have hosted a lengthy deposition and remain weighing antitrust implications, while Paramount’s chief legal officer frames opposition as politically charged. CBS News leadership changes have intensified internal turmoil.
The U.S. Department of Justice has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery after an eight‑month probe, concluding the merger is unlikely to harm competition in streaming, linear TV or theatrical film markets. The transaction still faces reviews by U.K. and EU regulators and possible lawsuits from state attorneys general.
The U.S. Navy has used an autonomous surface vessel to rescue the crew of an AH-64 Apache near the Strait of Hormuz, marking a high-profile test of unmanned systems in combat zones. The drone picked up the pilots and transported them to safety where a helicopter completed the evacuation. The incident follows renewed tensions in the region.
Sean Penn is directing an as-yet-untitled drama about the January 6 riot, with Bradley Cooper in talks to star. The project, based on real individuals, follows an unexpected friendship and production is slated to begin mid-2027. The film’s release window overlaps with other political cinema, including Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning.
Comcast has announced a tax-free spin-off that will separate NBCUniversal and Sky into a standalone, publicly traded media company while leaving Comcast focused on broadband, wireless and business services. The company has said the separation will complete in about a year, executives told investors, and Comcast will initially keep up to 19.9% of the new media group.
Culture secretary has said she is minded to intervene in the Paramount-WBD merger on public-interest grounds, triggering regulatory scrutiny by Ofcom and the CMA. A final decision has not been taken; Paramount and WBD face a response deadline, with potential timelines extending into Q3 2026.
A coalition of 12 U.S. states has secured a 14-day pause on Paramount’s $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, pending a ruling on a preliminary injunction. The deal remains under antitrust review globally as regulators weigh competition, pricing, and content implications for theaters, networks, and streaming platforms.
The European Commission has cleared Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger after Paramount agrees to terminate a distribution joint venture with Universal in Europe and to refrain from joint distribution deals with Universal or Disney for 10 years. The approval comes with a 13-month unwind window for the Universal arrangement. US regulators remain weighing the merger, with a court pause and potential injunction ongoing.
Paramount+ is rolling out a free, ad-supported tier and testing micro dramas as part of a broader product revamp. The moves are designed to attract new users, boost engagement, and drive future subscriptions, while streaming peers remain constrained by antitrust scrutiny over Paramount’s potential WBD acquisition.