Palo Alto Networks' strong revenue outlook and Toll Brothers' rising quarterly revenue lead a flurry of earnings reports, while Warner Bros. Discovery reopens merger talks with Paramount amidst Berkshire Hathaway's asset sales and Nvidia's multibillion-dollar deal with Meta. This sector also sees activist investor pressure on companies like Tripadvisor and Norwegian Cruise Line and **major acquisitions like Danaher's $10 billion deal for Masimo**.

• Palo Alto Networks Lifts Revenue Outlook as Second-Quarter Profit Jumps — Wall Street Journal -
• Toll Brothers First-Quarter Revenue Rises Amid Higher Land Sales — Wall Street Journal -
• Devon Energy Profit, Revenue Slip Ahead of Coterra Merger — Wall Street Journal -

• Opinion | The Warner Bros. Fight Isn’t Over — Wall Street Journal -
• Berkshire Hathaway energy unit sells power assets in rare disposal — Financial Times -
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Berkshire Pares Stakes in Apple and BofA, Adds New York Times Position — Wall Street Journal -
• Caesars Swings to Loss, But CEO Says Outlook Looks Stable — Wall Street Journal -
• Nvidia secures multibillion-dollar Meta deal as it battles chip rivals — Financial Times -
• Warner Reopens Talks With Paramount After Sweetened Offer — Wall Street Journal -
• Warner Bros. Discovery Restarts Deal Talks With Paramount — The New York Times Business -
• Warner Bros throws ownership battle open by giving Paramount a week to up its offer — Financial Times -
• A new era of US antitrust-lite leaves investors little better off — Financial Times -
• Starboard Dials Up Pressure on Tripadvisor With Push for Board Shake-Up — Wall Street Journal -
• IHS Towers Agrees to Be Bought by MTN Group for $6.2 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• Activist Elliott Builds Big Stake in Norwegian Cruise Line — Wall Street Journal -
• Danaher strikes $10bn deal for medical device maker Masimo — Financial Times -
• General Mills Cuts Outlook Due to Weak Consumer Sentiment — Wall Street Journal -
• Portland General to Buy PacifiCorp’s Washington Assets for $1.9 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• Paramount’s New Chance to Win Over Warner Bros. Discovery — The New York Times Business -
• Danaher Strikes $10 Billion Deal for Masimo — Wall Street Journal -
• Medtronic Profit Falls Despite Higher Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• NAPA Owner Genuine Parts Plans to Split Into Two Companies — Wall Street Journal -
• Activist Jana Builds Stake in Payments Business Fiserv — Wall Street Journal -
• Antofagasta Books Record Earnings, Driven by Higher Metal Prices — Wall Street Journal -
• InterContinental Hotels Group Posts Higher Revenue Despite Tough U.S. Market — Wall Street Journal -
• Japan’s largest toilet maker is undervalued AI play, says activist investor — Financial Times -
• BHP Targets $10 Billion in Asset Sales to Help Fund Copper Expansion — Wall Street Journal -

The Trump administration escalates efforts against the US consumer protection agency and sees **Japan pledge $36 billion in US investments, while a Sergey Brin-backed group challenges California's billionaire tax proposal and Colbert slams the FCC and CBS over political interview guidelines. Reform UK unveils its shadow cabinet, and RFK Jr.'s administration plans an overhaul of baby formula guidelines**.

• Trump escalates assault on US consumer protection agency — Financial Times -
• White House Shrugs Off Lutnick’s Epstein Ties — The New York Times Business -
• Sergey Brin-Backed Group Tries to Undercut California’s Billionaire Tax Proposal — Wall Street Journal -

• Eric Trump Invests in ‘Low Cost Per Kill’ Drone Company — Wall Street Journal -
• Colbert Slams Trump Administration After CBS Pulls Talarico Interview — The New York Times Business -
• Peruvian Congress removes interim president José Jerí — Financial Times -
• Japan Plans $36 Billion in U.S. Investments Under Trump Administration Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Colbert Slams FCC and CBS, Priming for Fight Over Equal-Time Rules — Wall Street Journal -
• Mexico’s school textbook author refuses to leave desk 4 days after sacking — Financial Times -
• Reform UK names Jenrick as ‘shadow chancellor’ — Financial Times -
• Who’s who in Reform UK’s top team — Financial Times -
• It’s Gavin Newsom’s show for now — Financial Times -
• Trump Sought Vast Budget Cuts. Congress Granted Few. — The New York Times Business -
• Bomb scares fuel Orbán’s anti-Ukraine election campaign — Financial Times -
• RFK Jr.’s Next Overhaul: America’s Baby Formula Guidelines — Wall Street Journal -

The White House shrugs off Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's Epstein ties, as more names emerge from the latest Epstein files release and the SEC is urged to investigate Apollo over similar connections. Further revelations include Prince Andrew's involvement in a cash-for-oil deal and Thomas Pritzker stepping down from Hyatt due to his association with Epstein.

• White House Shrugs Off Lutnick’s Epstein Ties — The New York Times Business -
• The Famous Names in the Latest Release of Epstein Files — Wall Street Journal -
• SEC urged to investigate Apollo over Epstein ties — Financial Times -

• Former prince Andrew agreed to help strike $8bn cash-for-oil deal between UAE and China — Financial Times -
• Thomas Pritzker steps down as Hyatt executive chair over Epstein ties — Financial Times -

The UAW's Southern strategy gains momentum with a VW victory, and the Federal Reserve is poised to loosen bank rules to boost mortgage lending, while UK unemployment hits a post-pandemic peak and wage growth cools. Analysts debate whether US markets and the economy are heading into uncharted territory amidst concerns over global economic risks and a turning US economy.

• Opinion | The UAW’s Southern Strategy — Wall Street Journal -
• Behold, the story of the Fed balance sheet in a single chart — Financial Times -
• Labour’s own goals on jobs — Financial Times -

• Submit your questions: How should you navigate global economic risks this year? — Financial Times -
• UK unemployment hits post-pandemic peak as wage growth cools — Financial Times -
• The US economy is turning — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Fed set to loosen bank rules to boost mortgage lending — Financial Times -
• Holiday Inn owner predicts World Cup will reverse US tourism decline — Financial Times -
• Global regulators fret about banks’ rising use of credit risk transfers — Financial Times -
• UK private sector pay growth close to target levels in December — Financial Times -
• The housing market is not getting much better — Financial Times -
• US labour supply concerns gather force — Financial Times -
• Can Reeves solve the Bank of England’s inflation problem? — Financial Times -
• US markets and the economy are heading into uncharted territory — Financial Times -
• Bank CEOs party like it’s 2007 — Financial Times -

**India and France near a $35 billion fighter jet deal, and Iran reaches an understanding with the US to guide nuclear talks, while Canada pivots its oil industry to Asia amidst US trade tensions and pitches itself as Europe's 'supplier of choice'. Meanwhile, Germany faces a projected 5% population shrink by 2050, and Poland extends its war reparations campaign to Russia**.

• Iran says ‘understanding’ reached with US to guide nuclear talks — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: India and France near $35bn fighter jet deal — Financial Times -
• Macron meets Modi in India as blockbuster fighter jet deal nears — Financial Times -

• Russia is using monuments to peddle misinformation — Financial Times -
• German population set to shrink 5% by 2050 — Financial Times -
• Canada’s oil industry pivots to Asia as US trade tensions simmer — Financial Times -
• Bank probe reveals Adani associates’ secret investments — Financial Times -
• Canada pitches itself as Europe’s ‘supplier of choice’ in face of US rift — Financial Times -
• UK quietly shelves £110mn frictionless post-Brexit trade border project — Financial Times -
• Poland extends war reparations campaign to Russia — Financial Times -
• China’s high-speed rail network accelerates world’s largest human migration — Financial Times -

CBS faces turmoil as Anderson Cooper departs '60 Minutes' and Stephen Colbert challenges FCC guidance on political interviews, while GQ names Adam Baidawi as its new top editor. Madison Avenue agencies navigate a crisis as midwestern firms see an opportunity, and the nation mourns the passing of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson.

• Opinion | What the Winter Olympics Really Stand For — Wall Street Journal -
• Rose Freedman, Last Survivor of Triangle Fire, Dies at 107 — The New York Times Business -
• CBS turmoil deepens as Cooper quits and Colbert defies lawyers — Financial Times -

• Anderson Cooper Is Leaving ’60 Minutes’ — The New York Times Business -
• GQ Names Adam Baidawi as Its Top Editor — The New York Times Business -
• Madison Avenue Is in Crisis. Midwestern Ad Agencies See an Opportunity. — Wall Street Journal -
• Jesse Jackson, US civil rights leader, 1941-2026 — Financial Times -
• Anderson Cooper to Leave CBS News’s ‘60 Minutes’ — Wall Street Journal -

Jet engines are being repurposed to power data centers amidst the AI boom, while India seeks a 'Delhi Declaration' on AI and an EU privacy watchdog investigates X over sexualized AI images. Niche tech billboards target start-up insiders in the Bay Area, reflecting the unique marketing strategies within the tech world.

• How Jet Engines Are Powering Data Centers — Wall Street Journal -
• With Niche Tech World References, Vibe Hopes Its Billboards Reach Start-Up Insiders — The New York Times Business -
• Did That Bald Head Get Your Attention? One Start-Up Hopes So. — The New York Times Business -

• India seeks a ‘Delhi Declaration’ on AI — Financial Times -
• EU privacy watchdog opens probe into X over sexualised AI images — Financial Times -

**Bayer agrees to a $7.25 billion settlement for Roundup lawsuits, and US charges are brought against two ex-executives in a private equity-owned group for fraud, while vaccine makers curtail research and cut jobs due to hostile federal policies. Brussels investigates Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls, and the H-1B visa debate fuels concerns over racism against South Asians**.

• Are you a medical provider who has worked in an ICE detention facility? We want to hear from you. — The New York Times Business -
• Bayer Agrees to Pay $7.25 Billion to Settle Roundup Lawsuits — The New York Times Business -
• Bayer Proposes New $7 Billion Plan to Settle Roundup Litigation — Wall Street Journal -

• US charges two ex-executives at private equity-owned group with fraud — Financial Times -
• Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs — The New York Times Business -
• Should Drug Companies Be Advertising to Consumers? — The New York Times Business -
• No queuing please! How to keep art world VIPs happy — Financial Times -
• Brussels investigates Shein for sale of childlike sex dolls — Financial Times -
• The limits of age-based policymaking — Financial Times -
• Greta Waller on being a painter and paramedic: ‘It’s a sickness. I have to do it’ — Financial Times -
• Where to dine and drink on Hong Kong’s waterfronts — Financial Times -
• How the H-1B Visa Debate Is Driving a Wave of Racism Against South Asians — The New York Times Business -

Resilient U.S. oil production continues to be a boon to the Trump administration, despite concerns about how long it will last and lower natural gas futures due to warmer forecasts. Big Oil executives are under pressure to outline their growth plans, as Canada's oil industry actively seeks new markets in Asia.

• Resilient U.S. Oil Production Is a Boon to Trump. How Long Will It Last? — Wall Street Journal -
• U.S. Natural Gas Futures Start Week Lower — Wall Street Journal -
• Big Oil executives under pressure to spell out growth plans — Financial Times -