Business 22 January 2026 - 27 January 2026

Nokia stock climbs in Helsinki after KDDI quantum-safe AI data center demo

Nokia stock climbs in Helsinki after KDDI quantum-safe AI data center demo

Nokia shares rose 0.5% to 6.43 euros in Helsinki after it announced a quantum-safe optical transport demonstration with KDDI at a Japanese data center. The company used its 1830 Photonic Service Switch to show encryption resistant to quantum attacks. Investors are awaiting Nokia’s annual report in early March and first-quarter results on April 23. Nokia’s ADRs climbed 2.2% in U.S. premarket trading.
February 23, 2026
Texas bans Temu and Shein on state devices as Abbott expands China tech blacklist to 26 firms

Texas bans Temu and Shein on state devices as Abbott expands China tech blacklist to 26 firms

Texas has added 26 China-linked companies, including Alibaba, Shein, and Temu’s parent PDD, to its banned technologies list for state devices and networks. The update, led by Texas Cyber Command, covers hardware, software, and AI tools. Governor Greg Abbott cited threats from hostile foreign actors. Companies named did not respond to requests for comment.
January 27, 2026
Micron’s $24 billion Singapore chip bet: 1,600 jobs and NAND output pencilled in for 2028

Micron’s $24 billion Singapore chip bet: 1,600 jobs and NAND output pencilled in for 2028

Micron will invest $24 billion to build a new NAND flash memory wafer fab in Singapore, with production set to begin in the second half of 2028 and about 1,600 jobs to be created. The facility will add 700,000 square feet of cleanroom space to Micron’s existing complex. Analysts warn tight memory supply may persist through 2027, despite increased output from Samsung and SK Hynix.
January 27, 2026
EU tightens screws on Google: Brussels moves to open Gemini features and Search data to rivals

EU tightens screws on Google: Brussels moves to open Gemini features and Search data to rivals

The European Commission opened two proceedings against Google on Tuesday to enforce the Digital Markets Act, focusing on Android interoperability for third-party AI and access to Google Search data on FRAND terms. Preliminary findings are expected in three months, with the process set to conclude in six. Google says it already complies, while EU officials stress equal access for rivals.
January 27, 2026
Fritz-Kola Says “No Price Hike” as Regenerative Sugar Beet Pilot Cuts CO2 — FritzBox Maker Faces Fibre Shift

Fritz-Kola Says “No Price Hike” as Regenerative Sugar Beet Pilot Cuts CO2 — FritzBox Maker Faces Fibre Shift

fritz-kola said it will not raise prices as it shifts some sugar sourcing to regenerative farming, after a pilot project cut emissions by 1,534 tonnes of CO2 and yielded 1,449 tonnes of sugar. CEO Mirco Wolf Wiegert said climate measures are already included in pricing, despite higher costs for growers. The company partnered with start-up Klim and six German farms for the project.
January 26, 2026
US set for $1.6 billion USA Rare Earth stake deal as Washington chases homegrown magnets

US set for $1.6 billion USA Rare Earth stake deal as Washington chases homegrown magnets

The U.S. government will acquire a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion debt-and-equity deal focused on a Texas mine and Oklahoma magnet plant, sources told Reuters. A separate $1 billion private investment is also expected to be announced Monday. The deal involves 16.1 million shares and warrants for another 17.6 million, both priced at $17.17 each. USA Rare Earth declined to comment.
January 25, 2026
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Shanghai as China weighs H200 AI chip entry after customs block

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Shanghai as China weighs H200 AI chip entry after customs block

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Shanghai Saturday as the company awaits Beijing’s approval to sell its H200 AI chip in China, sources said. Chinese customs have instructed agents not to allow the H200 into the country. Some domestic tech firms have been warned to limit Nvidia chip purchases and prioritize local alternatives. Nvidia has not commented on Huang’s visit.
January 24, 2026
Pegatron’s Texas factory deadline: Apple supplier targets end-March finish as AI server push heats up

Pegatron’s Texas factory deadline: Apple supplier targets end-March finish as AI server push heats up

Pegatron will complete its first U.S. factory in Texas by the end of March, with trial production of AI servers using Nvidia chips set for late March or April. CEO Kuang-Chih Cheng said the plant marks Pegatron’s first U.S.-operated facility. The company expects triple-digit growth in AI server revenue this year and has secured orders for custom ASIC-powered servers.
January 23, 2026
EquipmentShare IPO pops about 16% in Nasdaq debut, valuing construction tech firm above $7 billion

EquipmentShare IPO pops about 16% in Nasdaq debut, valuing construction tech firm above $7 billion

EquipmentShare.com began trading on Nasdaq Friday, opening at $28.50 and valuing the company near $7.16 billion, above its $24.50 IPO price. The firm raised about $747 million by selling 30.5 million shares. EquipmentShare operates 373 U.S. locations and reported a $25.2 million net loss for the first nine months of 2025 on $2.8 billion in sales.
January 23, 2026
Taiwan’s president to Arizona senator: Expect more TSMC chip investment after tariff cut

Taiwan’s president to Arizona senator: Expect more TSMC chip investment after tariff cut

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te told Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego he wants more chipmaking and R&D in Phoenix, following a new U.S.-Taiwan deal cutting tariffs to 15% and pledging $500 billion in investment and credit. Lai cited TSMC’s $165 billion Arizona project and pressed for double-tax relief, while warning against China’s “red lines,” according to Taiwanese media.
January 23, 2026
Musk’s Starlink is spreading on planes — but Ryanair says the math won’t work

Musk’s Starlink is spreading on planes — but Ryanair says the math won’t work

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary rejected Starlink’s in-flight Wi-Fi, citing higher fuel use and low demand from budget passengers. Elon Musk and O’Leary clashed publicly as major long-haul airlines sign deals for faster satellite internet to attract premium travelers. The cost per aircraft can reach $170,000. Full-service carriers push Wi-Fi as essential, while low-cost rivals focus on keeping expenses down.
January 23, 2026
Lenovo wants more AI model partners than Apple as it rolls out Qira, CFO says

Lenovo wants more AI model partners than Apple as it rolls out Qira, CFO says

Lenovo CFO Winston Cheng said at Davos the company is seeking partnerships with multiple large language model providers to power its devices and will pass higher memory chip costs to customers. Lenovo’s January deal with Nvidia targets faster rollout of liquid-cooled AI data center systems. Cheng named potential AI partners in Saudi Arabia, Europe, and China. He warned of an AI bubble in market valuations.
January 23, 2026
Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp Business data — why the UK is digging in now

Ofcom probes Meta over WhatsApp Business data — why the UK is digging in now

Britain’s Ofcom has opened an investigation into Meta over possibly incomplete or inaccurate data provided about WhatsApp Business in response to statutory information requests. The regulator said the requests, issued in 2024 and 2025, are critical for its review of the business messaging market. Meta said it will cooperate fully. Ofcom has not specified what information may be missing or when the probe will conclude.
January 23, 2026
Trump administration pushes out Liz Cannon, Commerce official behind Chinese car curb, sources say

Trump administration pushes out Liz Cannon, Commerce official behind Chinese car curb, sources say

Elizabeth “Liz” Cannon, head of the Commerce Department’s ICTS unit, will leave her post on Feb. 20 after being ousted by the Trump administration, according to sources. Cannon’s team helped finalize rules barring nearly all Chinese passenger cars from the U.S. Her departure follows Commerce’s decision to drop plans restricting Chinese-made drones. The administration plans to replace her with a political appointee.
January 23, 2026
Sberbank jumps into Russia’s chip race with Element stake — and Rostec won’t sell

Sberbank jumps into Russia’s chip race with Element stake — and Rostec won’t sell

Sberbank bought a 41.9% stake in microelectronics maker Element for 27 billion roubles ($355.7 million), surpassing Rostec’s 41.6% holding. The deal sets up a control struggle between the state-owned bank and the defense conglomerate. Sberbank acquired the shares from Sistema and other minority holders and plans a buyout offer. All three firms face Western sanctions over the Ukraine war.
January 23, 2026
TikTok avoids U.S. ban with Oracle-led joint venture deal — here’s who owns what now

TikTok avoids U.S. ban with Oracle-led joint venture deal — here’s who owns what now

ByteDance said Friday it will shift TikTok’s U.S. operations to a new joint venture, with Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX each taking 15% stakes and ByteDance retaining 19.9%. The venture will control U.S. user data on Oracle’s cloud and oversee TikTok’s algorithm security. Adam Presser was named CEO. Both U.S. and Chinese officials approved the deal.
January 23, 2026
Autodesk’s 1,000-job cut: Why the AutoCAD maker is shrinking sales to fund AI and cloud

Autodesk’s 1,000-job cut: Why the AutoCAD maker is shrinking sales to fund AI and cloud

Autodesk will cut about 1,000 jobs, or 7% of its workforce, mostly in customer-facing sales, as part of a sales overhaul. The company expects $135 million to $160 million in pre-tax restructuring charges and raised its outlook above prior guidance. CEO Andrew Anagnost told staff the cuts are not tied to AI replacement. Shares rose over 3% after the announcement.
January 22, 2026