Markets and regulators shared the spotlight today, with the EU conditionally approving Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, provided Paramount unwinds its European film distribution tie-up with Universal within roughly 13 months of closing. The decision clears a major hurdle in Europe, but the deal still faces serious legal challenges in the U.S., where state attorneys general and a federal court continue to complicate the path forward. Trade tensions also sharpened as Canada scrapped a planned joint opening ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge after President Trump announced 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, underscoring how quickly cross-border symbolism can sour. Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors moved to seize more than $25 million in cryptocurrency allegedly tied to romance and investment scams, part of a broader push to claw back fraud proceeds flowing through international laundering networks.