World News
Tankers with Russian oil shunned by India pile up off China coast
At least five vessels carrying about 3.4 million barrels were idling in the Yellow Sea as of Wednesday, double the volume of last week and the highest level for the grade in that region
 "Tankers with Russian oil shunned by India pile up off China coast")
BP appoints Meg O'Neill as first woman CEO of Big Oil in bid for revival
BP has been under pressure from Elliott to improve its performance, after Auchincloss reset the company's strategy in February by promising to refocus on oil and gas
 "BP appoints Meg O'Neill as first woman CEO of Big Oil in bid for revival")
US unveils $10 billion arms package for Taiwan in major defence deal
The eight arms sales agreements cover 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS
 "US unveils $10 billion arms package for Taiwan in major defence deal")
Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' for military service members
Taking a dig at the previous Joe Biden administration, Trump said in his address that he 'inherited a mess'
 "Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' for military service members")
US military strike on alleged drug boat kills 4 in eastern Pacific
US Southern Command stated on social media that the vessel was operated by narco-terrorists along a known trafficking route
 "US military strike on alleged drug boat kills 4 in eastern Pacific")
Australia to toughen hate speech laws after Bondi Beach Jewish attack
The prime minister is under intense pressure over his centre-left government's handling of a rising tide of antisemitism over the past two years that critics say culminated in Sunday's massacre
 "Australia to toughen hate speech laws after Bondi Beach Jewish attack")
US House rejects resolutions to limit Trump's campaign against drug cartels
Republican leaders have increasingly expressed support for Trump's campaign, even as it potentially escalates into a direct confrontation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
 "US House rejects resolutions to limit Trump's campaign against drug cartels")
Oscars show moving to YouTube from 2029 after over 50 yrs on Disney's ABC
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced Wednesday that the streaming platform will take over the show when the organisation's contract with Walt Disney Co.'s ABC network expires
 "Oscars show moving to YouTube from 2029 after over 50 yrs on Disney's ABC")
US admits negligence in Washington helicopter plane crash that killed 67
The official response to the first lawsuit filed by one of the victims' families said that the government is liable in the crash partly because the air traffic controller violated procedures
 "US admits negligence in Washington helicopter plane crash that killed 67")
New York set to legalise medically assisted suicide with 'guardrails': Guv
Democratic Gov Kathy Hochul plans to sign the proposal next year after pushing to add a series of guardrails in the bill
 "New York set to legalise medically assisted suicide with 'guardrails': Guv")
China sues Missouri after state seeks to collect on $25 bn court judgment
At issue is a lawsuit Missouri filed alleging that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic, harming the state and its residents
 "China sues Missouri after state seeks to collect on $25 bn court judgment")
Israeli PM approves $35 bn gas export deal to Egypt, biggest in its history
The gas will be delivered to Egypt over the next 15 years by US energy giant Chevron, a key owner of the gas field off Israel's coast in the Mediterranean Sea
 "Israeli PM approves $35 bn gas export deal to Egypt, biggest in its history")
US Senate passes $901 bn defence bill, seeks clarity on drug boat strikes
The bill demands more information on boat strikes in the Caribbean, requires that the US keep its troop levels in Europe at current levels and sends some military aid to Ukraine
 "US Senate passes $901 bn defence bill, seeks clarity on drug boat strikes")
Trump demands Venezuela return seized US oil assets, defends blockade call
Trump cited the lost US investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a months long pressure campaign against leader Nicols Maduro
 "Trump demands Venezuela return seized US oil assets, defends blockade call")
EU to expand carbon levy on high-emission imports, tighten loopholes
The EU also wants to clamp down on foreign companies if there is evidence they are under-reporting their emissions to dodge the levy
 "EU to expand carbon levy on high-emission imports, tighten loopholes")
US readies new sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal with Ukraine
The US has already sanctioned four top Russian producers and, along with other Group of Seven nations, hundreds of tankers involved in transporting Moscow's oil
 "US readies new sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal with Ukraine")
Trump orders total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuela
Trump said he was also designating the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a "foreign terrorist organisation
Waymo in talks to raise over $15 billion at nearly $100 billion valuation
Waymo and its would-be financial backers have weighed a valuation as high as $110 billion, though the amount raised and final value have yet to be determined
 "Waymo in talks to raise over $15 billion at nearly $100 billion valuation")
Warner Bros Discovery board rejects Paramount's $108 bn hostile bid
Paramount took its bid directly to Warner Bros' shareholders last week after the company announced a deal with Netflix on December 5
 "Warner Bros Discovery board rejects Paramount's $108 bn hostile bid")
Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training
The deal unites two of the largest US-based online learning platforms at a time when consumer course enrollment growth has cooled from pandemic highs
 "Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training")
