The FT News Briefing is supported by Equinole, the UK's energy partner.

Learn more at equinole.co.uk

Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Tuesday, February 7.

And this is your FT News Briefing.

Johnson & Johnson can no longer sidestep certain liability lawsuits.

Google is playing catch up with its artificial intelligence technology

and 11,000 Nigerians are suing shell over oil spills.

But first, get ready for a virtual quid. Maybe.

I'm Mark Filipino and here's the news you need to start your day.

The UK Treasury and the Bank of England are designing a digital pound.

If it gets off the ground, the E-currency could replace paper bank notes by the end of the decade,

but you would still be able to use it just like regular cash.

Officials want to make sure the Bank of England keeps control of the UK financial system.

The Treasury said a final decision on whether to go ahead with a digital pound would be made

around 2025.

A US court ruled against a company that tried to use a complex legal move to avoid

liability. The move is called the Texas Two Step.

Well, I mean, in some parts of the US, the Texas Two Step is actually a country and western-style dance.

That's the FT's Jamie Smith.

But among the legal community, it's the name of a complex corporate restructuring and bankruptcy scheme.

That's become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially among companies

facing billions of dollars of personal injury claims.

...