The AI and technology landscape is marked by a Pentagon ultimatum to Anthropic, AMD's strategic chip deals with Meta, growing concerns over AI's impact on education and business operations, and ongoing discussions about tech sovereignty and security risks.

• Pentagon Gives Anthropic an Ultimatum Over the Company’s A.I. Model — The New York Times Business -
• Hegseth threatens to cut Anthropic from Pentagon supply chain in showdown with CEO — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Shein’s mysterious founder emerges to hail Chinese roots — Financial Times -

• Workday Guides for Subscription Revenue Growth to Slow — Wall Street Journal -
• More Than Half of Teens Use Chatbots for Schoolwork, Survey Finds — The New York Times Business -
• ‘A.I. Literacy’ Is the New Drivers’ Ed at This Newark School — The New York Times Business -
• Racing to Catch Up With Nvidia, AMD Signs Chips-for-Stock Deal With Meta — The New York Times Business -
• AMD tries out the Kim Kardashian theory of data centres — Financial Times -
• The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored — The New York Times Business -
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Using AI to Write Performance Reviews — Wall Street Journal -
• The ‘extreme and improbable’ economics of Citrini’s AI report — Financial Times -
• Russia targets Telegram as rift with founder Pavel Durov deepens — Financial Times -
• Inside the Big Tech Lobbying Machine Aiming to Halt Social Media Bans — The New York Times Business -
• Will AI-driven productivity growth allow the Fed to lower rates? — Financial Times -
• Meta agrees multibillion-dollar chip deal with AMD — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Zelenskyy urges US to see through Russia’s ‘games’ — Financial Times -
• I.R.S. Tactics Against Meta Open a New Front in the Corporate Tax Fight — The New York Times Business -
• The cyber security threat inside your car — Financial Times -
• The ‘botlash’ movement is gaining momentum — Financial Times -
• Europe’s ‘tech sovereignty’ ambitions carry security risks, military warns — Financial Times -
• Anthropic accuses Chinese AI labs of ‘distillation attacks’ on its models — Financial Times -
• Jamie Dimon Dismisses Fears Over How AI Will Hit JPMorgan — Wall Street Journal -

The global trade environment is volatile with **Trump's new 10% tariffs taking effect, facing immediate legal challenges from companies like FedEx seeking refunds, while China imposes export bans on Japanese firms and Boston Beer's revenue is impacted by shifting tariff policies**.

• Boston Beer Posts Lower Fourth-Quarter Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• U.K., Australia and Others Worse Off Under Trump’s New Tariffs — The New York Times Business -
• Trump’s Tariffs Are Adding Steel Mill Jobs, and Crushing American Factories — The New York Times Business -

• Trump’s Tariffs Go Into Effect at 10 Percent, Not 15 — The New York Times Business -
• Trump’s New Tariffs Could Face Legal Challenges — The New York Times Business -
• What’s Happened Since the Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling — The New York Times Business -
• Corporate America’s Growing Quest for Tariff Refunds — The New York Times Business -
• FirstFT: Zelenskyy urges US to see through Russia’s ‘games’ — Financial Times -
• China Hits Japanese Firms With Export Bans — Wall Street Journal -
• Etihad boss says tariffs more disruptive to airline than conflict — Financial Times -
• China slams dozens of Japanese companies with export curbs — Financial Times -
• Trump’s global tariff takes effect at 10% — Financial Times -
• FedEx Files Lawsuit Against U.S. Seeking Refund of Tariffs — Wall Street Journal -
• FedEx Sues for Refund of Trump Tariffs Rejected by Supreme Court — The New York Times Business -
• US tariff strike-down creates new trade dilemmas for India — Financial Times -
• FedEx sues Trump administration for tariff refunds — Financial Times -

Various companies reported mixed financial results, including Lucid's workforce cuts and wider losses, Cava and Keurig Dr Pepper's sales increases driven by higher prices, and Home Depot's profit decline amid economic pressures, alongside Roku's profit turnaround and a slowdown in the software sector.

• Lucid to Cut U.S. Workforce by 12%, Reports Wider Loss — Wall Street Journal -
• Wall Street rallies as software selloff slows — Financial Times -
• Cava Fourth-Quarter Sales Rise on Higher Prices, New Restaurant Openings — Wall Street Journal -

• HP Dials Down Fiscal-Year Expectations as Memory Prices Drive Up Costs — Wall Street Journal -
• First Solar Posts Higher Profit on Increase in Revenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Home Depot Says Homeowners Are Weary From Economic Pressures — The New York Times Business -
• Planet Fitness Shares Sink on Weak Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• MTU Aero Engines Shares Fall After Outlook Narrowly Misses Expectations — Wall Street Journal -
• Home Depot Profit Falls As Home Improvement Downturn Continues — Wall Street Journal -
• Fresenius Medical Care Shares Drop After Outlook Underwhelms — Wall Street Journal -
• Keurig Dr Pepper Sales Rise on Higher Prices — Wall Street Journal -
• Roku’s New Ad Deals and Cost Cuts Help It End a Three-Year Profit Slide — Wall Street Journal -
• Singapore Airlines Posts Record Revenue on Strong Demand, Net Profit Slumps — Wall Street Journal -
• ConvaTec Leads FTSE 100 Gainers on Higher Revenue, Raised Outlook — Wall Street Journal -
• Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the most shorted stock of them all? — Financial Times -
• Telefonica Net Loss Widens on Restructuring Costs — Wall Street Journal -
• The Citrini fuss exposes a market looking for an excuse to fall — Financial Times -
• China’s BYD Opens 2026 With Blockbuster Sales Growth in Europe — Wall Street Journal -

Global tensions are high, with Washington warning Ukraine against striking US economic interests in Russia, President Trump contemplating war with Iran, China imposing export curbs on Japanese firms, and Mexican cartel violence impacting business operations.

• Washington warns Ukraine over striking US economic interests in Russia — Financial Times -
• France cuts off government access to US envoy Charles Kushner after snub — Financial Times -
• Donald Trump’s fateful decision on Iran — Financial Times -

• Merz seeks ‘reliable and fair partnership’ with Xi — Financial Times -
• Aid groups say Palestinians face ‘irreparable harm’ from ban — Financial Times -
• Honda suspends operations at Mexican plant over cartel rampage — Financial Times -
• Sheinbaum’s risky bet on dethroning ‘El Mencho’ — Financial Times -
• Lebanon says it was warned its airport could become Israeli target — Financial Times -
• Panama hands canal ports control to Maersk and MSC after ejecting Hong Kong group — Financial Times -
• Russian ‘illicit oil traders’ exposed by email blunder placed under UK sanctions — Financial Times -
• Iranian Oil Loadings Soar as Regional Risks Intensify Ahead of U.S. Talks — Wall Street Journal -
• Europe re-arms as US slows defence spending — Financial Times -
• European leaders express solidarity with Ukraine as US hangs back — Financial Times -
• Hungary veto of €90bn loan casts shadow over von der Leyen’s Kyiv visit — Financial Times -
• Investors back European start-ups building low-cost air defence — Financial Times -
• ‘Crisis of his own making’: Trump weighs another war with Iran — Financial Times -
• Takaichi plans Japanese ‘Cfius’ to tighten economic security — Financial Times -
• The war in Ukraine, four years later — Financial Times -
• Millions of people are returning to Taliban-run Afghanistan — Financial Times -

The media industry is focused on Paramount's sweetened bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially outbidding Netflix, while LVMH sees Bernard Arnault clinch majority ownership, and the **biotech sector anticipates a blockbuster year for M&A**.

• Paramount Raises Its Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — The New York Times Business -
• Paramount’s Newest Bid Could Open Door to Beating Netflix Deal, Warner Says — Wall Street Journal -
• Warner Bros says sweetened Paramount bid may top Netflix deal — Financial Times -

• Why 2026 will be a blockbuster year for biotech M&A — Financial Times -
• LVMH’s Arnault Clinches Majority Ownership of Luxury Group — Wall Street Journal -
• Paramount Revises Its Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery — The New York Times Business -
• After Saks Bankruptcy, Richard Baker Says He Saved Luxury Department Stores — The New York Times Business -
• Stripe valuation soars to $159bn in latest share sale — Financial Times -

The UK political and economic scene features MPs backing the release of files on a former prince's trade envoy role, the Bank of England citing government policies for youth unemployment, Northern Ireland facing a funding crunch, and Reform UK's ambitious plans for council pension investments.

• MPs back release of files about hiring of former prince as UK trade envoy — Financial Times -
• Reeves aims to reassure business with ‘boring’ Spring Statement — Financial Times -
• Government policies have fuelled youth unemployment, Bank of England says — Financial Times -

• Mandelson's lawyers deny he was planning to flee abroad — Financial Times -
• Northern Ireland faces funding crunch despite latest UK bailout — Financial Times -
• Reform UK plans to use £500bn of council pension assets to invest in British businesses — Financial Times -
• Court backlogs won’t fall to pre-Covid levels for a decade despite axing juries — Financial Times -
• Flying the flag for London Fashion Week — Financial Times -
• Labour fights for its soul in Manchester — Financial Times -
• Mandelson released after arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office — Financial Times -
• UK government accused of shelving fraud report — Financial Times -
• UK PR executive left role after US embassy raised concerns over online posts — Financial Times -
• UK’s Best Employers 2026: ranking — Financial Times -
• What has Reform learnt from its first taste of power? — Financial Times -

Novo Nordisk announces significant price cuts for its popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy in the US, aiming to **reduce list prices by up to 50%**.

• Novo Nordisk to Cut U.S. List Prices for Ozempic, Wegovy by Up to 50% — Wall Street Journal -
• Novo Nordisk halves US price of weight-loss drug — Financial Times -

US domestic policy and legal news includes the Trump administration weighing new banking requirements for citizenship info, a Supreme Court ruling on a baby food lawsuit, and a senatorial inquiry into Iran transactions on Binance.

• Trump Administration Weighs Requiring Banks to Collect Citizenship Info — Wall Street Journal -
• Senator Blumenthal Opens Inquiry Into Iran Transactions on Binance — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | State Courts Can’t Run Foreign Policy — Wall Street Journal -

• Trump Officials Seek to ‘Reimagine’ Unemployment Benefits, Targeting Fraud — The New York Times Business -
• Supreme Court Sides With Couple in Case Involving Baby Food Sold at Whole Foods — The New York Times Business -

The aviation and transportation sectors are concerned with air safety after a midair collision was averted, while Spirit Airlines plans to emerge from bankruptcy with a creditor deal.

• Averted Midair Collision Shows Importance of Air Safety Act, Backers Say — The New York Times Business -
• Spirit Airlines Plans Life After Bankruptcy With Creditor Deal — Wall Street Journal -

In energy and environment news, European natural gas prices fall due to warmer weather, First Solar reports higher profits, and the UK grapples with rapid coastal erosion near a nuclear plant.

• Energy & Utilities Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Could Britain harness the sun’s energy from space? — Financial Times -
• Warmer Weather, Strong Imports Push European Gas Lower — Wall Street Journal -

• Rapid UK coastal erosion throws spotlight on £40bn nuclear plant — Financial Times -

Broader business and economic news includes a slowdown in the software selloff on Wall Street, the Fed's likely course to hold rates until June, and the luxury resale market's boom despite brands struggling to capitalize.

• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• The Luxury Resale Market Is Booming. Brands Are Struggling to Cash In. — Wall Street Journal -
• Fed still on course to hold until June — Financial Times -

• How insurance became the lifeblood of private credit — Financial Times -
• Panasonic turns off US and Europe TV business with handover to Chinese rival — Financial Times -

Significant societal and cultural headlines include the Louvre director's resignation after a major jewel heist, the Boston Globe's rare suspension of print due to a storm, and ongoing discussions about the lack of women CEOs.

• Louvre boss resigns months after €88mn jewel heist — Financial Times -
• Storm Leads to a First for The Boston Globe: A Day Without a Paper — The New York Times Business -
• Why are there still so few women CEOs? — Financial Times -

• Centerview puts its sleep lawsuit to bed — Financial Times -
• For twins Elliot and Erick Jiménez, photography is an act of faith — Financial Times -
• Istanbul, a city powered by soup: here’s where to refuel, around the clock — Financial Times -