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Global M&A activity rose by 10% in the first nine months of 2025, reaching a total of $1.938trn, according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group. Despite challenges from geopolitical tensions and U.S. tariff policies, dealmakers have continued to pursue strategic opportunities, although the figures remain over 40% below the highs seen in 2021. Notably, North America accounted for more than 60% of the activity, while Europe experienced a 5% decline, particularly in the U.K., which saw M&A value drop by 35%.

 

Reuters

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Amazon has begun laying off 14,000 corporate employees, with up to 30,000 eventual job cuts expected - roughly 10% of its corporate workforce. The layoffs span HR, cloud computing, advertising, and more. Senior VP Beth Galetti described the move as an effort to reduce bureaucracy and invest in key priorities. CEO Andy Jassy linked the reductions to pandemic-era overhiring and increasing use of generative AI. AI-driven cost-cutting is becoming a broader corporate trend across U.S. firms. Amazon plans to release Q3 results on Thursday.

 

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

Nvidia plans to expand its research and development operations in Beersheba, Israel, by moving to a new site three times larger than its current facility. The chipmaker aims to hire hundreds of employees, including engineers and developers, to support this growth. Nvidia senior vice president Amit Krig said: "The new site will serve as a professional home for hundreds of additional developers." Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich said the site's expansion will strengthen the city's position as a leading innovation centre. Nvidia's R&D activities in Israel are already its largest outside the U.S.

 

The Times of Israel

The Information reports that the board of Japanese investment group SoftBank has approved a second installment of $22.5bn to complete its $30bn investment in OpenAI, conditional upon the artificial intelligence start-up completing a corporate restructuring that would pave the way for an eventual public offering.

 

The Information

PwC shrank its global workforce in the past year and abandoned a five-year hiring target as it grappled with slower revenue growth, internal scandals and the rise of artificial intelligence. 

 

Financial Times

Coca-Cola is launching a new classic soda made with cane sugar, available in select U.S. markets this fall. However, supply chain issues, particularly concerning cane sugar availability, are causing a limited rollout. The announcement follows pressure from the Trump administration for soda makers to replace high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar. Trump expressed his support on Truth Social, stating: “I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States.” Coca-Cola previously used cane sugar in the 1980s before switching to high fructose corn syrup, which is still used in products in Mexico and Europe.

 

Al.com

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is probing Tesla regarding a new aggressive driver assistance mode called "Mad Max," which reportedly allows vehicles to operate above speed limits. Drivers have described the mode as particularly dynamic, with the ability to "accelerate and weave through traffic at an incredible pace." The inquiry follows an ongoing investigation of 2.9m Tesla vehicles due to multiple incidents involving traffic safety violations linked to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

 

Reuters

Kirkland & Ellis has given its lawyers training on communication style as it tries to combat a reputation for uncooperative behavior in negotiations between its private equity clients and their investors.

 

Financial Times

Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico have petitioned a U.S. appeals court to block a Trump administration order requiring them to dissolve their joint venture that coordinates flights between the U.S. and Mexico. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has asserted that ending the nearly nine-year-old venture is necessary due to competition concerns, saying it grants an unfair advantage to the airlines. Both companies argue that unwinding the joint venture will lead to significant financial losses and operational disruptions. Delta described the USDOT's decision as "textbook arbitrary and capricious."

 

Reuters

Australia's competition regulator has launched a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging that the company misled approximately 2.7m customers by increasing prices for its Microsoft 365 software following the integration of the AI tool, Copilot. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims that Microsoft failed to inform users of a cheaper, "classic" plan without Copilot until they initiated the cancellation process, thus constituting a breach of consumer law. The ACCC is seeking penalties, consumer redress, and costs from both Microsoft Australia and its parent company.

 

Reuters

Beyond Meat has warned it will take a "material" non-cash impairment charge in its third quarter, linked to long-lived assets, as the company continues to restructure amid weakening demand for plant-based products. The California-based group said it could not yet quantify the charge but confirmed quarterly revenue is expected to be around $70m, within guidance but down from $81m a year earlier. Gross margins are projected at 10%–11%, hit by $1.7m in costs from scaling back operations in China, while operating expenses are forecast between $41m and $43m, including legal and restructuring charges.

 

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Cybercriminals are leveraging generative AI and synthetic media to enhance social engineering attacks, including phishing, vishing, and callback scams, according to PYMNTS. The FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report highlights a 33% increase in losses, totaling $16.6bn. AI-generated voices and fake interactive-voice-response systems are making scams more convincing. Enterprises are advised to adopt multifactor authentication, encrypt communications, and use AI-driven analytics for anomaly detection. The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and KnowBe4 emphasize stress-testing incident response and expanding employee training.

 

PYMNTS

Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) plans to file a police complaint regarding suspected intentional property damage linked to a recent strike by airport workers. CEO Lee Hak-jae confirmed the move during a National Assembly audit, saying: "We believe it was done intentionally." The strike, which lasted 10 days, caused significant disruptions, including the toilet blockages from stuffed toilet paper. The unions involved have warned of further walkouts unless working conditions improve.

 

Korea Joongang Daily