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This is the world in brief from The Economist.

Our top stories, Paramount, a film and TV giant, sweetened its offer for Warner Brothers

discovery as part of its attempt to derail a competing acquisition of Warner by Netflix, which values

the former at $83 billion. Paramount agreed to pay Warner's $2.8 billion fee to terminate

its rival bid from Netflix, along with $1.5 billion in fees related to Warner's debt refinancing.

Warner shareholders are set to vote on the offer from Netflix by April.

Mark Carney, Canada's Prime Minister, said he had a, quote, positive conversation with Donald

Trump, after America's president threatened

to block the opening of a bridge that links the two countries over claims that Canada was trying

to, quote, take advantage. Mr. Carney said Canada had paid for a construction of the Gordy Howell

International Bridge and that American steel was used.

America also has an ownership stake.

American retail sales were unexpectedly stagnant in December, remaining largely unchanged from

November's figures, which rose by 0.6%. Spending on clothing, furniture and cars fell

after an initial flurry of holiday shopping. The disappointing figures, which are not adjusted

for inflation, could reflect consumers' anxiety over rising costs and the impact of Mr. Trump's

tariffs.

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