Business
Trump raises potential concerns over $72bn Netflix-Warner Bros deal
US President Donald Trump has flagged potential concerns over Netflix’s planned $72bn (£54bn) deal to buy Warner Brothers Discovery’s movie studio and popular HBO streaming networks.
At an event in Washington DC on Sunday, he said Netflix has a “big market share” and the firms’ combined size “could be a problem”.
On Friday, the two companies said they had reached an agreement that could bring Warner Brothers’ franchises like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones to Netflix, creating a new media giant.
The planned deal, which has raised concerns among some in the industry, is yet to be approved by competition authorities. The BBC has contacted Warner Brothers, Netflix and the White House for comment.
Launched in 1997 as a postal DVD rental business, Netflix has grown to become the world’s largest subscription streaming service. The deal – the biggest the film industry has seen in a long time – would cement its number one position.
Under the agreement several global entertainment franchises, such as Looney Tunes, The Matrix and Lord of the Rings, would move to Netflix.
The US Justice Department’s competition division, which oversees major mergers, could contend that the deal violates the law if the combined businesses account for too much of the streaming market.
At an event at the John F. Kennedy Center in the US capital, Trump said that Netflix has a “very big market share” which would “go up by a lot” if the deal goes ahead.
Trump added that he would be personally involved in the decision on whether or not to approve the deal and repeatedly highlighted the size of Netflix’s market share.
He also said that Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently visited the Oval Office and praised him for his work at the company.
“I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a great person,” said Trump. “He’s done one of the greatest jobs in the history of movies.”
Mr Sarandos earlier acknowledged that the agreement may have surprised investors but said it was a chance to position Netflix for success in the “decades to come”.
Some in the entertainment industry have criticised the agreement.
The Writers Guild of America’s East and West branches called for the merger to be blocked, saying the “world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent.”
“The outcome would eliminate jobs, push down wages, worsen conditions for all entertainment workers, raise prices for consumers and reduce the volume and diversity of content for all viewers,” it said on Friday.
.png?width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Save on Christmas gifts for the whole team with Amazon Business")
As office party season reaches its peak and Christmas jumpers across the country are dusted off for their annual outing, it’s time to get gifts for the team sorted. Whether you own or run a business, showing those you’ve worked with this year that you appreciate them has never been easier thanks to Amazon Business. With quantity discounts, deals and promotions available over a wide range of categories, finding the perfect thank you is only a few clicks away. Keep reading for ideas on what to buy your employees and clients this Christmas.
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Food and drink
Nothing says Christmas has arrived quite like eating, drinking and being merry. From indulgent cheese and wine sets to classic single malts from Scotland’s finest distilleries, there are hundreds of beautiful options to choose from if you want to give a touch of decadence this festive season.
Tech and gadgets
For the more tech-savvy amongst your team, why not give the gift of a gadget? From Kindles to smart watches, headphones to speakers, Amazon Business is your one-stop shop for electronics.
Wellness and self-care
After a year of hard work, Christmas is the perfect time to focus on self-care. Give your team a head start on the January wellbeing drive with a pampering gift that’s just for them. You can’t go wrong with an essential oils bath set, or a luxurious men’s wash set with a stylish washbag to boot.
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Home and kitchen
Score a home run with your Christmas gifting with useful gadgets for the kitchen and round the house. From savvy robotic vacuum cleaners to chic electric corkscrews, Amazon Business has everything you could possibly need to make life at home a little easier.
Toys and games
Discover gifts that keep on giving with brilliant family games that will bring joy for years to come. With great prices on original games like Herd Mentality, Gullible and Six Second Scribbles, Amazon Business shows that corporate gifting doesn’t have to be stuffy and serious.
Sports and outdoor
For outdoorsy types, there’s no limit to how creative you can get with gifting. These hand warmers make a perfect Secret Santa gift for early morning runners, whilst this stylish flask is a great companion for keen hikers.
Gift cards and vouchers
Stumped on what to get for your clients this Christmas? You cannot go wrong with a gift card. Simply select your chosen amount and enter the email address of the lucky recipient. With inboxes overflowing in the lead up to the Christmas break, this is one email they’ll be very happy to receive.
Buy more, save more
Christmas can be an expensive time of year for business owners, but with some savvy shopping you can avoid accruing a receipt longer than Santa’s list. Unlock quantity discounts from just two units with Amazon Business, so you can get your gifting sorted while enjoying savings with business-exclusive pricing.
Find out more about Quantity Discounts
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Get access to business-exclusive discounts today
Sign in to your Business Account to access business benefits and special pricing. Don’t have an Amazon Business account yet? Don’t worry. All you’ll need is to create a free account, which you can create in a few simple steps:
- Go to business.amazon.co.uk or download and open the Amazon Business app on your device.
- Click the “Create free account” button and fill in details such as your name, work email, and create a new password.
- Click “Create your Amazon account” and then verify your new account via email or phone by entering the one-time password sent to you.
- You’re ready to shop! Once Amazon verifies your business, you’re ready to start shopping and saving.
Visit business.amazon.co.uk to get your Christmas gifts sorted today.
Last Updated:
Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed 50.14 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners will benefit from the 8th Central Pay Commission.
8th Pay Commission Implementation
8th Pay Commission: Pankaj Chaudhary, minister of state in the Ministry of Finance, clarified that the total number of government employees currently stands at 50.14 lakh, and there are approximately 69 lakh pensioners, who will get the benefits from the 8th Pay Commission.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha dated December 8, 2025, the minister said “the number of central government employees is 50.14 lakh, and the number of pensioners is 69 lakh approximately.”
When asked the date of implementation of the 8th CPC, the Minister clarified that it will be decided by the government that the commission will make its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution.
The minister was asked plans for allocation of funds for the 8th CPC in the 2026-27 budget, the MoS said it will make appropriate provision of funds for implementing the accepted recommendations of the 8th CPC. It will devise methodology and procedure for formulating its recommendations.
The finance ministry has stated that the 8th Central Pay Commission will submit its recommendations on key matters such as pay, allowances, pensions and other related issues. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary clarified the government’s position in response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha from members Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman, who had asked whether a revision of pensions for central government employees is being considered under the 8th CPC.
No Proposal To Merger DA, DR With Basic Pay
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had said earlier the central government has notified the constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission, and there is no proposal as of now to merge the existing dearness allowance (DA) or dearness relief (DR) with the basic pay.
“No proposal regarding merger of the existing dearness allowance with the basic pay is under consideration with the government at present. In order to adjust the cost of living and to protect basic pay/ pension from erosion in real value on account of inflation, the rates of DA/ DR are revised periodically every six months on the basis of the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) released by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment,” Chaudhary said in response to a query in the Lok Sabha.
He said the government has notified Resolution dated November 3, 2025, for the constitution of the Eighth Central Pay Commission. A copy of the Notification is enclosed at Annexure-1.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 09, 2025, 17:45 IST
Read More
New Delhi: India’s initial public offerings (IPO) have raised a record Rs 1.77 lakh crore ($19.6 billion) in 2025 so far, marginally higher than the 2024 tally, as companies rush to capture increasing investor demand.
With five more offerings scheduled to close on or before December 16, including ICICI Prudential Asset Management Co.’s $1.2‑billion deal, the total value of IPO proceeds is set to rise much higher than last year’s proceeds.
In 2024, Indian IPOs raised Rs 1.73 lakh crore, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The surge reflects a maturing capital market driven by a swelling base of retail investors and steady institutional appetite, even as demand for equities in the secondary market softened.
Analysts said that firms are using buoyant demand to lock in funding before global conditions tighten, and India has eased the process for companies to list and initiated a run of big-ticket deals.
Foreign institutional investors remain active participants in IPOs despite selling a record number of Indian equities in the secondary market. FII enthusiasm in primary markets helped companies across sectors and market caps to raise capital at elevated valuations.
Almost half of the more than 300 firms listed so far this year are trading below their offer price when the scrips debuted.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), on Thursday, proposed key reforms to address long-standing challenges around locking in pre-IPO pledged shares and simplifying public issue disclosures.
SEBI has suggested enabling depositories to designate pledged shares as “non-transferable” for the lock-in period in response to directives from the issuer.
India’s financial markets are heading into 2026 with renewed confidence, with notable surges in recent months and a resilient macroeconomic environment. This sharp turnaround was fuelled by multiple domestic triggers, including the GST 2.0 rate rationalisation that accelerated consumption across discretionary categories, a surge in manufacturing activity reflected in a two-month high PMI of 58.4.
PCB decides to hold PSL matches at AJK’s Muzaffarabad stadium – SUCH TV
Middle East IPO boom fades amid competition from global markets
US to allow Nvidia H200 chip shipments to China, Trump says
-
Sports1 week agoIndia Triumphs Over South Africa in First ODI Thanks to Kohli’s Heroics – SUCH TV
-
Entertainment1 week agoSadie Sink talks about the future of Max in ‘Stranger Things’
-
Fashion1 week agoResults are in: US Black Friday store visits down, e-visits up, apparel shines
-
Politics1 week agoElon Musk reveals partner’s half-Indian roots, son’s middle name ‘Sekhar’
-
Tech1 week agoPrague’s City Center Sparkles, Buzzes, and Burns at the Signal Festival
-
Sports1 week agoBroncos secure thrilling OT victory over Commanders behind clutch performances
-
Business7 days agoCredit Card Spends Ease In October As Point‑Of‑Sale Transactions Grow 22%
-
Entertainment1 week agoNatalia Dyer explains Nancy Wheeler’s key blunder in Stranger Things 5