
One million people missed the self-assessment tax deadline. HMRC reported 27,456 taxpayers filed in the final hour before the deadline. Those who missed it face an automatic £100 penalty, with additional penalties for continued non-compliance.

The EU introduces voluntary carbon removal certification standards. The European Commission has launched its first voluntary certification methodologies for permanent carbon removals, setting clear standards for technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere, facilitating certification and investment in these projects.

Infosecurity Europe has unveiled a new Cyber Startup Programme. The initiative will debut at the 2026 event in London, combining a dedicated startup zone, founder-focused conference content, and a live pitching competition aimed at supporting early-stage cybersecurity businesses.

Starling’s IPO plans face uncertainty amid regulatory frustrations. The digital bank’s billionaire backer is reconsidering a London listing due to slow regulatory reforms, raising concerns of a potential New York IPO instead.

Tony’s Chocolonely reports double-digit growth despite cocoa price volatility worldwide. The ethical chocolate brand grew revenues 20% year-on-year to €240m, expanded its US footprint, and scaled ethical cocoa sourcing through Tony’s Open Chain, even as the global cocoa sector grappled with record prices and supply disruption.

January’s US M&A opened 2026 with cash, speed, and scale. From streaming to medtech and power, buyers chased certainty and category leverage. Five headline deals, led by Netflix’s $82.7bn Warner Bros. push, signalled a market willing to pay up for assets that shorten timelines, widen moats, or lock in demand.

Miro connects visual collaboration directly with AI coding environments. The new MCP server links shared diagrams, requirements, and design context in Miro with agentic development tools to improve accuracy, reduce rework, and align cross-functional teams.

Midlands angel network Minerva refocuses to connect growth-stage start-ups and investors. Marking its 30th anniversary, the University of Warwick-linked network is tightening its remit to support companies raising up to £500,000, with a renewed emphasis on hands-on angel involvement and deeper founder-investor collaboration.

SpaceX has completed the largest technology acquisition ever recorded globally. Elon Musk’s aerospace company has acquired his artificial intelligence venture xAI in a transaction valuing the combined business at roughly $1.25tn, unifying two of the entrepreneur’s most ambitious projects under a single corporate structure.

UK manufacturers reduce US exports due to tariff uncertainties. A survey reveals that 20% of factories have already reduced exports, with 16% planning to follow. Despite this, the US remains a key market, though manufacturers are shifting towards local sourcing.