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Europe
BBC Business

Some people's chats with Claude AI found publicly available online

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Anthropic's Claude chatbot is among the most popular, rivaling ChatGPT and Gemini. Hundreds of user conversations with Anthropic's popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Claude were found to have been available to essentially anyone using Google or other web browsers. Links to the chats, some of which included personal and work information, would show up if a user of a search engine like Google used a site-specific search term. The searches showed Claude chats for which a user had decided to "share" a link had been saved by search engines like Google, leaving them accessible to the broader public. The search availability of the chat logs was removed over the weekend, but many were saved and shared widely online. A spokeswoman for Anthropic said that Claude users maintained control over if and when to share conversations they had with the chatbot. She said links to conversations were "not guessable or discoverable unless people choose to share them themselves". "When someone shares a conversation, they are making that content publicly accessible, and like other public web content, it may be archived by third-party services," the spokeswoman added. The share option within Claude tells a user that "anyone with the link" may view the contents of that link, but does not explicitly state that the link may end up in Google and search results. Users on Reddit initially discovered, external the publicly available chats, which covered more than 200 conversations with Claude across at least 25 pages of search results - some taking place just weeks ago. In the conversations, users prompted the chatbot to respond to a wide array of topics. Chat logs include a user asking Claude last year whether it wanted "to help me or do you want to help anthropic more?". The chatbot responded in part, saying "I experience something like wanting to help you".

Some people's chats with Claude AI found publicly available online
North America
CNBC Finance

Southwest Airlines put Texas jet fuel on a boat to LA for the first time amid supply worries

Southwest Airlines hired a ship this spring to send jet fuel from Texas to California, where prices are much higher and concerns had grown about supply, Chief Financial Officer Tom Doxey told CNBC. It was a first for the Dallas airline. "It brought like a week's supply to the West Coast at a time when when supply was most constricted ... when it was most at risk," Doxey said. The ship, which left from Houston and went through the Panama Canal, arrived May 28 in Los Angeles and had about 12.6 million gallons aboard, Southwest said. For context, Southwest used 564 million gallons of jet fuel in the last quarter. The West Coast is much more reliant on imports than other parts of the country. Jet fuel prices spiked and have been volatile since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February. Southwest said Thursday that its fuel expenses were up nearly $900 million in the second quarter from last year. For the shipment to California, the airline said it used a waiver of the Jones Act, a law from 1920 that requires shipments between U.S. ports to be carried on a U.S. ship. President Donald Trump waived that requirement in March as fuel prices were soaring in the weeks following the start of the Iran war and subsequent shipping snarls erupted in the Strait of Hormuz, a key channel. Worries about supplies intensified as countries restricted exports this year, fearful of running low on fuel. Those concerns have since eased, a Southwest spokesman said. Jet fuel is airlines' biggest expense after labor. Prices eased in late spring and early summer but rose again as tensions reignited with Iran this month. Last week, United Airlines, which flies more internationally than any other U.S. carrier, said it is using the latest available fuel prices for its quarterly estimates because prices have been so volatile. In its July 15 report, it said jet fuel increased $575 million, or a $1.12 hit to adjusted earnings per share, for the third quarter alone. U.S. airlines have abandoned fuel hedges, which help them lock in costs through futures contracts, over the past decade or so as the U.S. was awash in supply, keeping a lid on prices. This time around, carriers have scaled back their capacity growth plans, which is also helping boost fares. Airline executives this month said demand remains strong despite higher fares, which they say are likely to stick.

Southwest Airlines put Texas jet fuel on a boat to LA for the first time amid supply worries
North America
CNBC Finance

Jamie Dimon says markets underestimate risks and he wouldn't buy stocks or Treasurys at current prices

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said investors are underestimating the risks facing the global economy and that he wouldn't buy either equities or long-dated U.S. Treasurys at their current prices. In an hourlong interview with Wilfred Frost released late Monday, Dimon said markets aren't fully accounting for a growing list of geopolitical and fiscal threats. "I do think those risks are probably bigger than other people think," Dimon said, pointing to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, tensions between the U.S. and China, and rising military spending in a time of mounting government deficits. Asked whether markets are underpricing the chance of a major shock, Dimon said it's difficult to know exactly what risks are already reflected in asset prices. "It's possible something's baked in, but what's not baked in is what actually happens," he said. Dimon, who leads the world's largest bank by market cap, often warns the public about the economic risks he sees. His latest comments contrast with investors' recent willingness to look past wars, tariffs and other shocks. The S&P 500 has returned nearly 10% this year as consumers continue to spend, inflation has moderated and investors have embraced the artificial intelligence trade. Last week, JPMorgan Chase and its peers posted blockbuster quarterly results powered by surging trading and investment banking revenue, reinforcing the view that the U.S. economy has weathered recent geopolitical turmoil better than many expected. Dimon acknowledged in the interview with "The Master Investor Podcast" that the global economy has become more resilient because of a lower energy dependence than in previous decades, but warned that doesn't eliminate the possibility of a sudden inflection point. "You may need more straws in the camel's back to cause that tipping point," he said. "Even this current war starting up again, maybe that's not enough to do it." Persistent U.S. budget deficits will eventually force a reckoning, potentially driving interest rates higher, Dimon said. "My view is it will become a problem," he said, predicting higher interest rates as so-called bond vigilantes demand greater compensation to finance the government's debt.

Jamie Dimon says markets underestimate risks and he wouldn't buy stocks or Treasurys at current prices
North America
CNBC Finance

'The Odyssey' is cleaning up for Imax. Expect the momentum to continue

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is racking up box office dollars for Imax and fueling investor confidence that the company will reach record ticket sales in 2026. Shares of Imax jumped more than 8% on Thursday after the company reported it was still on track to deliver a record $1.4 billion in global box office this year. Wall Street had worried that when Netflix and Greta Gerwig's "Narnia: The Magician's Nephew" was pushed from its November release date to February 2027, that Imax would not be able to reach that guidance. Universal's "The Odyssey" is easing those fears. Over its opening weekend, the film generated $52 million in global box office for Imax. The company's locations represented less than 1% of total screens but a whopping 20% of the film's worldwide debut. "The Odyssey" opening was 47% higher than Nolan's previous film, "Oppenheimer." The biopic hauled in more than $190 million via Imax throughout its run in 2023. And momentum for "The Odyssey" has showed few signs of slowing. The film secured another $11 million on Monday and $10.6 million on Tuesday — the best Tuesday performance of all time for the company, according to Imax CEO Rich Gelfond, who spoke to investors on an earnings call Thursday. "Our presales for the second weekend would qualify on its own as one of our biggest opening weekends ever," he said. "These numbers help prove that we're just getting warmed up." Still to come to global Imax screens this year is Sony and Marvel's "Spider-Man: Brand New Day;" Zach Cregger's take on "Resident Evil;" Tom Cruise's newest feature, "Digger;" "Godzilla Minus Zero;" David Fincher's "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," which stars Brad Pitt and is based on Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood;" and Paramount's "Street Fighter." Then Warner Bros. and Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Three" will cap off the year. The first Dune film generated $61 million in Imax theaters during the tail end of the pandemic and "Dune: Part Two" secured $147 million globally. "Our momentum continues to translate into demand from our exhibition partners," Gelfond said. The company installed 38 Imax systems globally during the second quarter, up from 36 during the same period a year prior. This is the highest number of installations in the second quarter in a decade, Natasha Fernandes, Imax's chief financial officer, told investors during Thursday's earnings call. Nineteen systems were installed in the first quarter, and the company is on pace to have 160 to 175 installations by the end of 2026. "We continue to see tremendous runway for our global expansion, and we continue to innovate in ways that make Imax even more valuable to creators, studios, exhibitors and audiences alike," Gelfond said. "This is an incredibly exciting time for our business." Correction: This story has been revised to reflect that "Godzilla Minus Zero" is among the films coming to Imax screens this year. A previous version misstated the name of the movie.

'The Odyssey' is cleaning up for Imax. Expect the momentum to continue
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Apple suffers worst rout since 2025 on disappointing outlook

Apple Inc. suffered its worst stock decline in 16 months after component shortages weighed on the company’s sales forecast, signaling that industrywide supply constraints are taking a bigger toll than anticipated. Revenue will rise 9 per cent to 11 per cent in the fiscal fourth quarter, which runs through September, the company said on a post-earnings conference call Thursday. Analysts had estimated growth of more than 12% in the period, which is likely to be the debut quarter for the next iPhone models. Apple has been struggling to secure enough computer processors and counter fast-rising memory costs, a situation that forced the company to raise prices on Macs and iPads last month. The supply crunch has also led to extended wait times on key computers like the Mac mini and Mac Studio. On the call, Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook said constraints would affect more Macs, iPhones and iPads in the current quarter. Currency fluctuations are hampering growth as well. The disappointing forecast sent Apple shares down 7.4 per cent to $308.91 in New York on Friday, their biggest single-day drop since April 3, 2025. Cook likened the memory cost issue to a “100-year flood,” while adding that the chip shortages were fueled by higher-than-expected demand for the iPhone and Mac. He specifically cited consumer interest in the iPhone 17 line and MacBook Neo, a new low-cost laptop. Apple also said services growth would decelerate in the September quarter. And it warned of an impact from regulatory changes to its App Store business model in the European Union and elsewhere. New legislation allows developers to collect subscription payments directly, bypassing Apple’s fee. Gaming revenue was softer than anticipated, too. In addition, the tech giant’s results showed weaker-than-expected revenue in China and from services during the June quarter. China sales amounted to $18.8 billion, short of the $19.6 billion estimated by some analysts. Revenue from services grew a disappointing 12 per cent to $30.7 billion, compared with a $31.4 billion projection. That business includes Apple Music, the App Store, iCloud subscriptions, streaming video and other digital offerings. The quarter serves as a swan song of sorts for Cook, who will hand the reins to hardware head John Ternus on Sept. 1. Cook, Apple’s leader since 2011, diversified the product lineup and increased annual sales to nearly half a trillion dollars. The stock had been up 23% this year heading into the results, outpacing many tech peers. Apple had temporarily reclaimed its title as the world’s most valuable company in recent days — overtaking Nvidia Corp. — in part because it was seen as a safe haven from runaway AI spending. After briefly approaching the $5 trillion mark this month, the company’s current market value is now $4.5 trillion. The iPhone, Apple’s biggest moneymaker, was a bright spot last quarter. The product’s revenue rose 22 per cent to $54.3 billion during the period, topping estimates of $53.6 billion. The numbers suggest that demand remains solid for the iPhone 17 series launched last September. The company also rolled out a new low-end 17e model in March.

Apple suffers worst rout since 2025 on disappointing outlook
North America
CNBC Finance

Cyclospora outbreak tests RFK Jr.'s promise to overhaul food system, rebuild trust in CDC

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the helm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last year promising to overhaul the U.S. food system and restore confidence in the agencies that oversee it. The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services now faces one of his biggest tests yet, as the country tries to contain an outbreak – or potentially multiple outbreaks – of foodborne illness. Two months and thousands of cases of cyclosporiasis later, it looks like the nation's already fragile system is faltering. Experts have long said the U.S. is underprepared to rein in foodborne outbreaks. But after the Trump administration slashed key officials — from federal employees who investigate the source of illnesses to those who share information with the public — Kennedy appears to face an even more daunting task to contain the parasite and build trust in the administration's response. "It is difficult to quantify precisely, but it is clear that the cuts to federal funding over the past year or so have reduced our capacity to respond to outbreaks like this," said Craig Hedberg, co-director of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence. Kennedy earlier this week defended the handling of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis that has sickened at least 7,000 people in Michigan alone. (The official count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has lagged behind state tallies, sits at nearly 4,200 cases). Kennedy said the ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis is "under control," contending criticisms that agency cuts have hampered the investigation are "invalid." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have narrowed their focus to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, a produce supplier for a range of restaurants and grocers. The FDA over the weekend said lettuce from the company tested positive for cyclospora, the parasite that causes the explosive diarrhea. The agency later walked that back, saying it was a false positive. Donald Schaffner, chair of food science at Rutgers University, said he's never seen such a reversal before and called it a "pretty big screw up." Still, one former senior FDA food official said the agency was right to publicize the positive test because if it turned out to be a true positive, delaying the announcement could have caused more people to fall ill. And regardless of the test result, the agencies still see the lettuce as a likely culprit. The about face, and the confusion it created over whether regulators still suspected the Taylor Farms lettuce was tied to the outbreak, underscored the difficulty Kennedy faces in trying to restore public confidence. HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard in a statement to CNBC said the FDA has been transparent with Taylor Farms throughout the investigation and the corrected lab result doesn't change the agency's findings. Former federal health officials and independent food safety experts say they see the cyclospora response as a prime example of a system that's long been underfunded and overstrained, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to these kinds of outbreaks. And they fear budget cuts, policy delays and personnel turnover are exacerbating an already delicate situation. In response, Hilliard said regulators have "mounted a robust, science-based response to this outbreak, working closely with health departments in all 50 states, rapidly identifying known sources, and ensuring Americans have the information they need to protect themselves." She added, "FDA and CDC continue working together to use every available public health tool to identify additional sources of the outbreak and inform swift public health action." Cyclospora is a parasite that's trickier to track than some other pathogens. Parasites don't grow outside the human body, making it harder to test for them and link cases to each other. Cyclospora tests are prone to false positives because the process for conducting them can sometimes make it look like there's a parasite in the sample when there's not, Schaffner said.

Cyclospora outbreak tests RFK Jr.'s promise to overhaul food system, rebuild trust in CDC
Europe
The Guardian

Trump imposes fresh tariffs on UK, EU and dozens of other trading partners

Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Marietta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDonald Trump speaking at a rally in Marietta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesTrump tariffsTrump imposes fresh tariffs on UK, EU and dozens of other trading partnersNew tariffs will replace 10% global duty and come after US supreme court declared many of the earlier levies illegal Donald Trump has imposed a fresh round of tariffs on more than 80 countries to replace a 10% global duty that was due to expire, provoking a wave of criticism and protests from US allies and major trading partners. In the latest attempt to instate aggressive trade policies despite challenges from the US supreme court, the president has imposed tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on dozens of countries, including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China and the 27 countries that make up the European Union. It in effect replaces the blanket 10% tariff that Trump imposed in February, right after the supreme court declared many of his earlier tariffs were illegal. The newest levies, announced late on Thursday by the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, would fall under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which is aimed against countries that engage in forced labor. Trump had said his administration would investigate unfair trading practices to impose permanent tariffs as soon as the February supreme court decision was announced. “The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” Greer said in a statement. “I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labor import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement.” View image in fullscreenDuring a heated exchange before US senators on Wednesday, Jamieson Greer appeared to claim Trump’s policies had not driven prices higher. Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/ReutersAustralia and Brazil described the new tariffs as unjustified and said they would seek to have them removed, while Norway’s foreign minister said there was no basis for the new tariffs. The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said the bloc would seek ​clarification from Washington, adding that it had honoured commitments under a transatlantic trade agreement reached last year and viewed ⁠the new tariffs as a shock. Canada, one of America’s largest trading partners, immediately responded that it “should not be targeted”, adding it was a leader against the practice of importing goods produced with forced labor. “If the intent is truly to address forced labour, the focus should be a coordinated approach through a multilateral mechanism,” Matthew Holmes, executive vice-president of the Canadian chamber of commerce, said in a statement. “The timing of this is somewhat suspect as previous rounds of tariffs sunset.” Trump had long viewed tariffs – border taxes levied on imports – as a core tool to protect American jobs and manufacturing, reduce trade deficits and reverse what he sees as “unfair” practices by US trading partners. Tariff, he has said many times, is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”. View image in fullscreenTrump during his ‘liberation day’ tariff announcement in April 2025. Photograph: Kent Nishimura/EPAOnly Congress has the authority under the constitution to levy taxes. But last April, on what he declared was “liberation day”, Trump announced a baseline 10% tariff under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a trade law that grants the president the authority to regulate international transactions during a national emergency. That policy, however, suffered a damaging blow in February when the US supreme court ruled 6-3 that the ability to enact tariffs during peacetime still belongs to Congress. Trump immediately announced another 10% tariff regime under another trade law that had never been used before, which limited the tariffs to a period of 150 days. Those tariffs expired a minute past midnight on Friday morning US eastern time. The latest round of tariffs invoke section 301, which has long proved controversial and so far been used sparingly, according to a Brookings analysis of the law in March.

Trump imposes fresh tariffs on UK, EU and dozens of other trading partners
Europe
BBC Business

US imposes tariffs on dozens of trade partners over 'forced labour' imports

Image source, Getty ImagesByMichael Race, Francisco Velasquez, Reporting fromNew York, Jemma Crew and Osmond ChiaPublished23 July 2026Updated 1 hour agoThe US is imposing new tariffs on 60 trading partners, accounting for the vast majority of its imports, over claims they failed to properly stop forced labour. The duties, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, target key economic partners – including the UK, China, the European Union, Canada, Japan and India. They come into effect on Friday, as a temporary 10% tax on foreign goods introduced earlier this year expires. The move is the latest escalation in the global trade war reignited by US President Donald Trump when he returned to office last year. The US Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that many of the tariffs imposed globally under emergency powers were illegally enacted. Last month, the White House proposed 10%-12.5% duties on imports from dozens of countries over concerns they were not doing enough to tackle forced labour. On Thursday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, acting under Trump's direction, said those duties would now take effect. "Today's action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere," his statement said. Greer invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which governs US trade enforcement of practices that burden or restrict American commerce. Earlier this week, the Trump administration invoked a different statute, Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, to impose 50% tariffs on products from Canada. On Thursday, the Office of the US Trade Representative said the latest tariffs were being imposed on partners "for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour". The new duties apply to the top 60 US trade partners covering 99.4% of US imports, it added. The office said Trump had made adoption of a ban on imports produced with forced labour a "critical" part of reciprocal trade agreements with other nations.

US imposes tariffs on dozens of trade partners over 'forced labour' imports
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Indian Railways records 9% growth in freight loading, higher passenger traffic in July

Indian Railways recorded a 9% year-on-year increase in freight loading to 141.3 million tonnes in July 2026, driven by higher movement of iron ore, coal, fertilisers and food grains. Indian Railways recorded a 9 per cent year-on-year growth in freight loading in July 2026, handling 141.3 million tonnes compared with 129.7 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year, according to the Ministry of Railways. The ministry said the growth reflected sustained demand across key sectors of the economy and continued efforts to improve freight logistics and operational efficiency. Loading of major commodities recorded strong growth during the month. Iron ore loading increased 22.2 per cent year-on-year, while fertilizer loading rose 12 per cent. Food grains and coal loading each grew 11.5 per cent, while loading of balance other goods increased 12.1 per cent. The rise in coal demand from thermal power plants also led Indian Railways to step up domestic coal supplies to power plants by 20 per cent in July compared with the same month last year. The ministry said the increased movement of key commodities supported industry, agriculture and energy security. Higher freight volumes also translated into stronger revenue generation. Indian Railways recorded incremental freight revenue of Rs 1,137 crore over July 2025, representing an 8 per cent increase. Among zonal railways, East Central Railway and Eastern Railway recorded the highest freight revenue growth at 33 per cent each. West Central Railway reported a 23 per cent increase, while South Eastern Railway registered 10.33 per cent growth. Passenger traffic also continued to expand during July. Indian Railways carried 63.35 crore passengers during the month, compared with 62.19 crore in July 2025. The ministry said passenger traffic increased across both suburban and non-suburban segments, reflecting growing preference for rail travel. The latest performance comes as Indian Railways continues to focus on strengthening freight logistics, expanding rail capacity and improving passenger services. The ministry said sustained improvements in operational efficiency, capacity augmentation and customer-centric initiatives would help strengthen the rail network’s role in supporting economic growth, energy security and mobility across the country. The increase in freight movement, particularly of iron ore, coal, fertilizers and food grains, underscores the continued importance of the rail network in transporting critical commodities and supporting industrial and agricultural activity. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Indian Railways records 9% growth in freight loading, higher passenger traffic in July