Newly released documents continue to shed light on Jeffrey Epstein's connections to prominent figures, detailing how Kathryn Ruemmler was contacted upon his arrest, Brad Karp faced consequences for his ties, Bill Gates' affairs were entangled, DP World's boss exchanged emails about sexual experiences, and Peter Mandelson faces a misconduct probe, revealing how elite individuals advised Epstein to "ignore" his crimes and sought to use secrets for leverage. These revelations are now forming a social Ponzi scheme narrative that is impacting political figures.

• When the FBI Arrested Epstein, He Called Kathryn Ruemmler — Wall Street Journal -
• Paul Weiss Partners Turned on Brad Karp After Learning Extent of His Epstein Ties — The New York Times Business -
• How Epstein Inserted Himself Into a Split Between Bill Gates and a Top Gates Adviser — Wall Street Journal -

• DP World boss emailed Epstein about sexual experiences — Financial Times -
• Police search Peter Mandelson’s homes as part of misconduct probe — Financial Times -
• ‘Ignore It.’ How the Elite Consoled Jeffrey Epstein Over His Crimes. — Wall Street Journal -
• Mandelson, money - and the risk to the prime minister — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s social Ponzi scheme — Financial Times -
• ‘Gang Stuff’ and ‘Illicit Trysts’: How Epstein Sought Leverage With the Wealthy — The New York Times Business -
• The Famous Names in the Latest Release of Epstein Files — Wall Street Journal -

The Trump administration remains a central focus with the launch of TrumpRx, the President's online drugstore, new banks greenlighted by Trump 2.0, and his tax law saving Amazon billions, alongside Google workers protesting cloud services for immigration agencies, Trump removing a racist post about the Obamas, discussions on Trump's tariffs, US-Iran talks amidst rising tensions, and China warning on US arms sales to Taiwan, as the public debates local TV rules and Nike's collision course with Trump supporters; these events reflect the normalization of deviance and perilous age of quantum politics under his presidency, also impacting international travel to the US and the Chinese gold market's volatility.

• China warns US arms sales to Taiwan could threaten Trump visit — Financial Times -
• Opinion | Local TV Rules Are Stuck in the 1990s — Wall Street Journal -
• TrumpRx, the President’s Online Drugstore, Opens for Business — The New York Times Business -

• Hobbit-Inspired Startup Becomes First New Bank Greenlighted by Trump 2.0 — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump’s New Tax Law Saved Amazon Billions — Wall Street Journal -
• Google Workers Demand End to Cloud Services for Immigration Agencies — The New York Times Business -
• Trump removes racist post about Obamas after fierce backlash — Financial Times -
• TrumpRx: What to Know About Insurance Benefits, Pricing and Savings — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | Is President Trump Right About His Tariffs? — Wall Street Journal -
• US and Iran hold talks as military tensions rise — Financial Times -
• Nike and Trump’s Supporters Have Been on a Collision Course for Years — The New York Times Business -
• Trump and the normalisation of deviance — Financial Times -
• The perilous age of quantum politics — Financial Times -
• Trump’s policies dent international travel to US in blow to tourism sector — Financial Times -
• The Chinese gold market embracing volatility — and three more years of Trump — Financial Times -
• White House launches TrumpRx as drug companies warn of sales hit — Financial Times -

Stock markets saw a rebound with the Dow hitting a record high, while the tech sector experienced rallies after a sell-off driven by both fear of AI replacing software makers and massive AI spending blitzes from Amazon and Google, with Anthropic breaking out in AI for business and Elon Musk's ventures under scrutiny. Corporate earnings reports showed mixed results for Jennifer Garner's brand debut, AutoNation, Philip Morris, Newell Brands, Biogen, Under Armour, Centene, Naver, and Societe Generale, alongside volatility in Bitcoin and chipmakers, and discussions on market talk for auto, transport, energy, utilities, basic materials, and financial services.

• Stocks Rebound After Volatile Week as Dow Hits Record High — The New York Times Business -
• Jennifer Garner’s Baby Food Brand Jumps in NYSE Debut — Wall Street Journal -
• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -

• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Elon Is Always Selling . . . Like any Revolutionary — Wall Street Journal -
• US tech stocks rally strongly after three days of heavy selling — Financial Times -
• Anthropic’s breakout moment: how Claude cracked AI for business — Financial Times -
• Fear of AI Replacing Software Makers Hits Stocks. Here’s What to Know. — The New York Times Business -
• AutoNation Revenue Declines on Weaker New, Used Vehicle Sales — Wall Street Journal -
• Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Philip Morris Leans Into Smoke-Free to Fuel Growth — Wall Street Journal -
• Newell Brands to Lower Some Prices Following Resistance to Hikes — Wall Street Journal -
• Amazon Shares Sink as Company Boosts AI Spending by Nearly 60% — Wall Street Journal -
• Amazon shares sink as it prepares $200bn AI spending blitz — Financial Times -
• U.S. Natural Gas Extends Recovery — Wall Street Journal -
• Biogen Revenue Down as Multiple Sclerosis Sales Slide — Wall Street Journal -
• A Reprieve for the Markets, but For How Long? — The New York Times Business -
• Under Armour Lifts Outlook Despite Tariff Pressures — Wall Street Journal -
• Big Tech’s ‘breathtaking’ $660bn spending spree reignites AI bubble fears — Financial Times -
• Centene Swings to Loss Despite Higher Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Orsted Shares Rise After Guidance Confirmation Despite Blow From U.S. Disruption — Wall Street Journal -
• The Dark Side of A.I. Weighs on the Stock Market — The New York Times Business -
• It’s Time to Rethink the Standard Investment Advice. But Not Too Much. — The New York Times Business -
• Failed Rio Tinto-Glencore Talks Show Big Copper Deals Are Hard to Do — Wall Street Journal -
• Societe Generale Raises 2026 Profitability Target — Wall Street Journal -
• A crunchy week for chipmakers — Financial Times -
• Google Plans to Double Spending Amid A.I. Race — The New York Times Business -
• Naver Has Record Year Despite Weaker Final Quarter — Wall Street Journal -
• Bitcoin Booster’s $12 Billion Loss Headlines Crypto’s Worst Day Since 2022 Crash — Wall Street Journal -
• Reddit Logs Higher Fourth-Quarter Profit as Ad Revenue Jumps — Wall Street Journal -

The automotive sector is undergoing significant shifts, including **Stellantis's $26 billion charge due to a shift away from electric cars, Toyota replacing its CEO in the face of tariffs and competition, and concerns over replacing Chinese code in vehicles**.

• Stellantis’s Shift Away From Electric Cars Will Cost It $26 Billion — The New York Times Business -
• Toyota Names Kenta Kon C.E.O. as Automaker Faces Tariffs and Increasing Competition — The New York Times Business -
• Jeep Maker Stellantis Books $26 Billion Charges in EV Reset — Wall Street Journal -

• Toyota Replaces CEO After $9 Billion Hit From Trump’s Tariffs — Wall Street Journal -
• Toyota replaces ‘car guy’ CEO with finance chief — Financial Times -
• The Car Industry Is Racing to Replace Chinese Code — Wall Street Journal -

Major media and tech companies face increased scrutiny, with the **US launching an antitrust review of Netflix's $83bn deal for Warner Bros, the Justice Department casting a wide net on Netflix's business practices, and Europe accusing TikTok of "addictive design" that poses risks to children, while Jeff Bezos's influence on the Washington Post is highlighted by layoffs and restructuring**.

• US launches antitrust review of $83bn Netflix deal for Warner Bros — Financial Times -
• Justice Department Casts Wide Net on Netflix’s Business Practices in Merger Probe — Wall Street Journal -
• Europe Accuses TikTok of ‘Addictive Design’ and Pushes for Change — The New York Times Business -

• Bezos’s calculated vandalism of the Washington Post — Financial Times -
• Bezos gutted the Washington Post. Can he revive it? — Financial Times -
• EU warns TikTok over addictive feeds and risks to children — Financial Times -
• The Washington Post Eliminates Its Sports Department — The New York Times Business -

UK politics faces ongoing turmoil, as the Starmer camp warns of economic chaos amid a leadership challenge, and his grip on power weakens due to revelations about Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the rising cost of money in politics, with concerns over the student loan system and discussions about potential replacements for Starmer.

• Starmer camp warns leadership challenge risks economic chaos — Financial Times -
• Hesitation from leadership rivals keeps Starmer in Downing Street for now — Financial Times -
• Keir Starmer’s weakening grip on power — Financial Times -

• Counting the cost of money in politics — Financial Times -
• The student loan system — and its danger for Keir Starmer and Labour — Financial Times -
• Why Al Carns is gaining ground as MPs mull Starmer’s replacement — Financial Times -

The global landscape features diverse events including investigators reviewing a new message in the Nancy Guthrie case, Canada opening a consulate in Greenland, rising US electricity bills impacting politics, prediction markets experiencing warp-speed growth, an Indian film embracing a Taj Mahal conspiracy theory, French farming posting a trade deficit, EU pushes for a full ban on services tied to Russia's oil trade, Japan's KDDI finding fictitious revenues, Saudi Arabia cutting oil prices, Moody's warning on Indonesia's outlook, big business souring on South Africa, San Francisco's upswing fueled by AI wealth, Uber found liable in a rape case, a Russian military intelligence official shot in Moscow, and new insights into 2025 tax returns, Super Bowl ads, cheap restaurants disappearing, maritime giants targeting a New York-area port, veterans applying for VA mortgages, and concerns about climate change reshaping the Winter Olympics.

• Investigators Review New Message in Nancy Guthrie Case — Wall Street Journal -
• Canada opens consulate in Greenland in show of support for Arctic island — Financial Times -
• The political cost of America’s surging electricity bills — Financial Times -

• Prediction markets’ warp-speed growth is their biggest risk — Financial Times -
• 7 Brothers, a Rom-com and a Dream — The New York Times Business -
• The disappointing randomness of currency hegemony — Financial Times -
• The 2026 Super Bowl Ads (So Far), Ranked — The New York Times Business -
• A Reprieve for Veterans Applying for V.A. Mortgages — The New York Times Business -
• Where Did All the Cheap Restaurants Go? — Wall Street Journal -
• Warsh studies — Financial Times -
• French farming posts first trade deficit in nearly a decade — Financial Times -
• Funding the Muskverse will require ever more audacious moves — Financial Times -
• EU pushes for full ban on services tied to Russia’s oil trade — Financial Times -
• Japan’s KDDI finds up to $1.5bn in fictitious revenues — Financial Times -
• Islamabad mosque bombing kills more than 30 people — Financial Times -
• Neighbours of proposed Chinese ‘mega’ embassy seek judicial review — Financial Times -
• After the fall: San Francisco is on the upswing — Financial Times -
• Russian military intelligence official shot in Moscow — Financial Times -
• Bitcoin investor’s company helped draft law to enable libertarian Caribbean development — Financial Times -
• Blood Tests and Better-for-You Soda: Super Bowl Ads May Be Healthiest Yet — Wall Street Journal -
• Do smart people eat better? — Financial Times -
• Maritime Giants Target Major New York-Area Port Terminal — Wall Street Journal -
• 2025 Tax Returns: Here’s What to Know About Filing This Year — The New York Times Business -
• They Came for Its Riches, but Big Business Is Souring on South Africa — Wall Street Journal -
• In bed with Leonard Baby — Financial Times -
• Saudi Arabia Cuts Flagship Oil Price to Asia for Fourth Straight Month — Wall Street Journal -
• Privatising the Fed’s balance sheet — Financial Times -
• European businesses demand EU put competitiveness talk into action — Financial Times -
• Moody’s warns on Indonesia outlook in wake of market turmoil — Financial Times -
• An Indian Film Embraces a Taj Majal Conspiracy Theory — The New York Times Business -
• Team GB embraces snow sport talent as it chases record Winter Olympics haul — Financial Times -
• Climate change is reshaping the Winter Olympic Games — Financial Times -
• Why private equity won’t rescue the UK’s housebuilding efforts — Financial Times -
• The fake Saudi prince who fooled a nation’s elite — Financial Times -
• The multimillion dollar business of sports ceremonies — Financial Times -
• What an economist eats for lunch (in 2026), with Tyler Cowen — Financial Times -
• Inside Elon Musk’s $1.25 Trillion AI and Space Megamerger — Wall Street Journal -
• Uber Found Liable in Rape by Driver, Setting Stage for Thousands of Cases — The New York Times Business -
• Takaichi taps Japan’s anxiety over foreigners — Financial Times -
• India's stock market is failing to match growth in economy — Financial Times -