Thursday brought a flurry of major developments across politics, business, and technology.
A US judge allowed Elon Musk’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI to advance, while President Donald Trump may unveil sweeping tariff reductions and new trade pacts aimed at easing inflation-weary American households.
Media giants reportedly began circling Warner Bros. Discovery, and in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves abandoned plans to raise income tax following internal party unrest.
Judge allows Musk’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI to proceed
A US federal judge in Texas ruled Thursday that Apple Inc. and OpenAI must respond to a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s X Corp. and xAI, which accuses the two companies of colluding to stifle competition in artificial intelligence markets.
US District Judge Mark Pittman rejected Apple and OpenAI’s motion to dismiss the suit, originally filed in August, and directed both sides to submit further arguments.
Although his order did not elaborate on the reasoning, the ruling ensures the case will proceed in federal court.
The lawsuit seeks billions in damages and claims Apple’s integration of OpenAI technology into its iPhone operating system restricts innovation and consumer choice.
Musk’s companies allege the partnership creates an unfair market advantage that undermines emerging competitors in the rapidly expanding AI sector.
The case is being closely watched across Silicon Valley and Washington, where regulators and rivals are increasingly scrutinising big technology partnerships for potential antitrust implications.
Trump prepares tariff cuts
US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a series of tariff reductions and new trade agreements with Latin American nations as part of a broader plan to combat high food prices, according to officials and recent public statements.
The proposed framework, which involves Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ecuador, would aim to reduce import barriers on staple food products such as beef, bananas, and coffee beans.
The initiative follows Democratic gains in several state and local races last week, where affordability and rising grocery costs featured prominently.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said during an interview with Bloomberg that the administration had been “thinking about changing tariffs for foodstuffs.”
Trump, speaking on Fox News earlier this week, said he intended to “lower some tariffs” on coffee, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that fruit imports may receive tariff relief.
Although no formal announcements have been made, the administration’s discussions suggest a significant policy shift intended to ease household spending pressures and respond to voter concerns about persistent inflation.
Comcast, Netflix, and Paramount explore Warner Bros. Discovery takeover bids
Three major entertainment conglomerates — Comcast Corp., Netflix Inc., and Paramount Global — are preparing competing bids to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. (WBD), The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Paramount is reportedly pursuing a full acquisition of WBD. At the same time, Comcast and Netflix are focused on specific assets, including the company’s film and television studios and its streaming service HBO Max.
Both, however, are said to have little interest in acquiring their traditional cable networks, such as CNN, TNT, and the Discovery Channel.
According to the report, the first round of bids is due November 20, with WBD targeting completion of the process by year-end.
The potential sale could reshape the global media landscape, coming at a time when traditional networks face declining audiences and streaming competition continues to intensify.
UK Chancellor Reeves drops income tax plan amid party tensions
In the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reportedly abandoned plans to raise income tax in her upcoming budget, following days of internal strife within the ruling Labour Party.
According to The Guardian, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reeves jointly decided to “rip up” the proposal after concerns it would break a key manifesto pledge.
The move followed a week of public disagreements within the party and speculation over potential leadership challenges.
The Financial Times, which first reported the U-turn, said Reeves has informed the Office for Budget Responsibility of the change.
Downing Street declined to deny the reports, citing its policy not to comment on budget matters.
Reeves had previously considered raising income tax to bolster fiscal headroom, but may now explore adjusting tax thresholds instead — a move likely to be seen as a “stealth” increase by many analysts.
The reversal underscores growing political pressure on the government amid falling approval ratings and internal party divisions over economic policy.
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