Two top congressional Democrats have pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for answers regarding a now-canceled plan to purchase $400 million of armored electric vehicles from Tesla, as reported by NPR. The Democrats highlighted concerns about potential violations of federal procurement laws and enrichment of Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk. While a State Department spokesperson mentioned that there are no current plans to proceed with the purchase, questions remain about the origins of the procurement plans and potential document alterations. The Biden administration document showed a significantly lower budget for electric vehicle acquisition, raising suspicions about the exaggerated $400 million estimation. Rubio was asked to clarify if the purchase amount was intentionally changed and to provide evidence of definitively abandoning the contract. Despite the canceled plan, uncertainties persist about the initiation of the $400 million Tesla procurement under the Trump administration. The State Department and Musk have not responded to requests for comment.

Mistral AI, a French tech startup, known for its AI assistant Le Chat and various models, is seen as a strong competitor to OpenAI. Despite a $6 billion valuation, its global market presence is relatively low. Recently, its chat assistant Le Chat gained attention, especially in France. Mistral AI offers models like Mistral Large 2, Pixtral Large, Codestral, and more. The company also launched Mistral OCR, an optical character recognition API. Mistral AI's founders have backgrounds in major U.S. tech companies. While some of Mistral AI's models are open source, it generates revenue through paid tiers for Le Chat and API usage. The company has secured partnerships with Microsoft, AFP, the French army, and others. With over €1 billion in funding and plans for an IPO, Mistral AI aims to solidify its position in the AI market.

President Donald Trump has granted a one-month tariff reprieve to automakers like General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, delaying tariffs on automobile imports from Canada and Mexico. The automakers are expected to move their offshore operations to the United States by April 2 to comply with the USMCA agreement. The tariffs could potentially increase car prices by up to $12,000, impacting demand and leaving dealers with unsold inventory. Trump's administration is pushing for automakers to shift production to the U.S. before the tariffs take effect. Ford, for instance, has invested billions in the U.S. and plans further investments to align with USMCA requirements.

The golf score tracking app market is teeing up for success with the rise of smartphone use and a growing interest in golf. These apps, like 18Birdies, Arccos Caddie, Golfshot, GolfLogix, TheGrint, and SwingU, offer various features from GPS distances to shot tracking, appealing to golfers of all levels. A competitor analysis dives into each app's company size, estimated revenue, and unique features, providing insight into the iOS app store's top contenders. Pricing varies, with some apps offering free basic features before users opt for paid subscriptions. So, if you're looking to up your golf game or just keep track of your progress, these apps have you covered—fore sure!

Retailers like Trader Joe's and Kroger have started limiting egg purchases due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks decimating the chicken supply. Prices have soared over 15% since January as farmers had to cull millions of hens. Trader Joe's restricts customers to buying one or two dozen eggs per day, while Kroger imposes a two-dozen limit per customer per trip in some divisions. The bird flu outbreak has affected nearly 160 million birds, leading to a scarcity of eggs and rising prices. Experts are uncertain about how long it will take for the situation to improve. Retailers hope to prevent hoarding by implementing these limits. The hoarding behavior may be short-lived due to the perishability of eggs. So, grab your eggs while you can, but don't chicken out on sharing!

Chinese AI firm DeepSeek has emerged as a strong contender against U.S. AI companies by showcasing breakthrough models that promise top-notch performance at a fraction of the cost. Despite the success of their mobile app in major markets like the U.S., UK, and China, doubts linger about the validity of their claims. Founded by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek's open-source models with reasoning features have caught the attention of Wall Street. Analysts have mixed reactions, with Jefferies warning about impacting capex plans of tech giants, Citi questioning the lack of advanced GPUs in DeepSeek's achievements, and Goldman Sachs foreseeing a potential shift in tech competition dynamics. Other firms like Bernstein and Morgan Stanley also weighed in on DeepSeek's impact, emphasizing potential changes in AI landscape and market demands. The analysts' diverse viewpoints reflect the industry's intrigue and skepticism towards DeepSeek's disruptive entry into the AI domain.

In a potential groundbreaking move, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders is on the verge of making Super Bowl history by leading his team to the big game. This feat would mark him as the first rookie quarterback to achieve such a milestone. Doug Williams, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback and now a senior adviser for the Commanders, highlights the progress for Black quarterbacks in the league, emphasizing the overdue recognition of their talent. Williams acknowledges the challenges faced by Black quarterbacks in the past due to racial biases but celebrates the current shift towards merit-based opportunities. He commends Daniels' work ethic and determination, underscoring the dedication that has propelled him towards success. As the Commanders gear up for the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, all eyes are on Daniels as he aims to make history and continue the legacy of talented Black quarterbacks in the NFL.

United Health has disclosed that the ransomware attack on its unit, Change Healthcare, impacted approximately 190 million Americans, almost double the initial estimates. The breach, attributed to the ALPHV ransomware gang, is considered the largest in U.S. medical data history, leading to substantial outages in the healthcare system. Stolen data included sensitive information like names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and health records. Despite no reported misuse, the breach underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures.

Starbucks has announced a new policy requiring customers to make a purchase to use their cafes or restrooms, reversing a 2018 open-door approach. The change is part of CEO Brian Niccol's strategy to improve declining profits, alongside initiatives like faster service and a simplified menu. The policy will be implemented in over 11,000 North American stores, with staff undergoing training.

The move may pose challenges for those who rely on public restrooms, such as individuals with specific medical needs. Starbucks aimed to be a communal "third place" beyond work and home, a concept dwindling in the U.S., especially post-COVID-19. The decision reflects broader societal shifts and concerns around community spaces.

Drugmakers increased prices for 575 medications in early January, including drugs for diabetes, HIV, and cancer. While past annual price hikes averaged 10%, this year's median increase is 4%, the lowest in over a decade. Despite prices rising above inflation, some drugs saw decreases. Companies attribute price hikes to factors like changes in healthcare systems. Consumers may pay more or less depending on insurance coverage and negotiations. Overall, the complex drug pricing landscape continues to impact healthcare costs and access.

Astronomers are scratching their heads over enigmatic cosmic entities dubbed "little red dots" detected by the James Webb Space Telescope. A research team has delved into hundreds of these peculiar objects, shedding light on their enigmatic nature. These "dots," compact and reddish in appearance, have puzzled scientists due to their unusual light signatures. Through data analysis, researchers have uncovered that little red dots were prevalent in the early universe but have since vanished. Some of these enigmatic objects exhibit characteristics hinting at the presence of burgeoning black holes, challenging previous theories on galaxy formation. The debate among astronomers continues, with some arguing that these dots are massive galaxies while others propose a black hole association. The discovery of these mysterious little red dots has added a fascinating twist to the universe's narrative, leaving scientists intrigued and puzzled.