Key Takeaways
- China has launched a probe into DeepSeek and Moonshot AI following allegations of unauthorized user data routing and "illicit distillation" of Anthropic's Claude model.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports that 60%-70% of oil flows are currently moving through the region, with volumes climbing despite ongoing tensions.
- Oil prices fell below $100 per barrel as reports surfaced of a potential deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian state media has since issued denials.
- The UK’s HMRC has escalated its oversight of the ultra-wealthy by assigning a personal compliance manager to every billionaire to ensure tax transparency.
China Investigates AI Labs Over Data Routing Allegations
Chinese regulators have initiated a probe into prominent AI startups DeepSeek and Moonshot AI regarding potential data leaks and unauthorized routing of user queries. The investigation follows a detailed report from U.S.-based Anthropic (ANTHROPIC), which accused the firms of "illicit distillation"—a process where Chinese labs allegedly funneled millions of user requests to the Claude model to train their own systems.
The probe focuses on whether these labs exposed sensitive Chinese user data to American infrastructure without authorization. Anthropic's report claimed that Moonshot AI and DeepSeek together accounted for over 35 million exchanges with Claude over a short period in mid-2026, often presenting the AI's responses as their own.
Rubio Signals Rising Oil Flows Amid Diplomatic Uncertainty
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that 60% to 70% of oil flows are currently exiting the Middle East, and that this percentage is "climbing." Rubio emphasized that while no formal meeting is currently scheduled between President Donald Trump and the Iranian President, the administration remains "open to meeting with anybody" to resolve the regional stalemate.
Market volatility spiked as Brent crude and WTI futures reacted to conflicting reports about the Strait of Hormuz. While some outlets suggested a reopening deal was imminent, Fars News Agency, citing Iranian sources, denied that any such agreement had been reached with the U.S. or international mediators.
UK Tax Authority Targets Billionaires with Personal Managers
The UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has implemented a rigorous new compliance strategy, assigning a personal compliance manager to every billionaire in the country. This move is part of a broader effort to close the "tax gap" and ensure that high-net-worth individuals, whose financial affairs are often global and complex, are paying the correct amount of tax.
The initiative follows reports that the wealthy population contributed approximately £119 billion in tax receipts in the 2023/24 cycle, representing 25% of total personal tax receipts. By providing a dedicated point of contact, HMRC aims to proactively manage risks associated with offshore assets and complex trust structures, seeking to increase compliance yields which have already doubled to £5.2 billion over the last four years.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.