World News
Trump again repeats claim that he stopped war between India, Pakistan
Despite Trump's repeated claims, India has consistently denied any third-party intervention
 "Trump again repeats claim that he stopped war between India, Pakistan")
Amazon misses Q4 earnings estimates despite strong sales, cloud growth
Amazon said it plans to increase capital spending to $200 billion this year from $125 billion as it sees opportunities in artificial intelligence, robots, semiconductors and satellites
 "Amazon misses Q4 earnings estimates despite strong sales, cloud growth")
US, Russia agree to restore high-level military dialogue after 4 year gap
They were also at last month's talks in the same place as the Trump administration tries to steer Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement
 "US, Russia agree to restore high-level military dialogue after 4 year gap")
US has right to secure, reinforce military presence on Diego Garcia: Trump
Trump described Diego Garcia as being of 'great importance' to US national security due to its central location in the Indian Ocean and its role in supporting American military operations
Trump administration targets job protections of 50,000 federal employees
It is the biggest change to the rules governing the civil service in more than a century and targets employees that the administration sees as undermining the president's priorities
ECB keeps rates unchanged, plays down impact of dollar weakness on policy
Asked about the currency, Lagarde said the ECB was keeping a close eye on markets but ultimately concluded that no big change has taken place in recent months
 "ECB keeps rates unchanged, plays down impact of dollar weakness on policy")
Once the hottest bet on Wall Street, private credit has started to crack
Apollo Global Management and BlackRock, two other large players, have also rattled investors with write-downs on large loans to several troubled e-com- merce companies.
 "Once the hottest bet on Wall Street, private credit has started to crack")
HSBC set to push out underperformers as some bankers face zero bonuses
Such a move is aligned with the vision of Chief Executive Officer Georges Elhedery, who wants to bring the bank more in line with pay practices at American peers
 "HSBC set to push out underperformers as some bankers face zero bonuses")
Reliance buys 2 mn barrels of Venezuelan crude after nearly a year: Report
Trading houses Vitol and Trafigura were granted US licenses to market and sell millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil following the US military operation last month to capture President Nicolas Maduro
 "Reliance buys 2 mn barrels of Venezuelan crude after nearly a year: Report")
Nike faces probe over alleged discrimination against white workers
Nike said it has "shared thousands of pages of information and detailed written responses to the EEOC's inquiry" and is "in the process of providing additional information"
 "Nike faces probe over alleged discrimination against white workers")
US jobless claims jump by 22,000 to 231,000 last week: Labour Dept
Applications for unemployment benefits are seen as representative of US layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market
 "US jobless claims jump by 22,000 to 231,000 last week: Labour Dept")
US, Russia near deal to extend new START nuclear arms treaty: Report
The New START treaty, which set limits on each side's missiles, launchers and strategic warheads, is the last in a series of nuclear agreements dating back more than half a century to the Cold War
 "US, Russia near deal to extend new START nuclear arms treaty: Report")
Oil slides over 2% as easing supply fears follow planned US-Iran talks
Brent crude futures were down $1.73, or 2.5 per cent , at $67.73 per barrel at 1402 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.67, or 2.5 per cent , at $63.47
 "Oil slides over 2% as easing supply fears follow planned US-Iran talks")
India-US trade deal in final stages, to open new phase in ties: Jaishankar
Jaishankar, in a social media post, described his visit to the US as "productive" and "positive"
 "India-US trade deal in final stages, to open new phase in ties: Jaishankar")
US, Russia agree to restart military dialogue after Ukraine negotiations
High level military communication was suspended in 2021, just before Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine
Kremlin says Russia will uphold nuclear stability after New START expires
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the New START treaty, which set limits on each side's missiles, launchers and strategic warheads, would lapse at the end of Thursday
 "Kremlin says Russia will uphold nuclear stability after New START expires")
UK PM Keir Starmer apologises to Epstein victims amid Mandelson row
Starmer said he regretted believing what he described as "lies" conveyed by Mandelson at the time of the appointment and acknowledged the public manner in which the matter unfolded
 "UK PM Keir Starmer apologises to Epstein victims amid Mandelson row")
Russia, Ukraine hold second day of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi
Last year saw a 31 per cent increase in Ukrainian civilian casualties compared with 2024, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch said in a report published Wednesday
 "Russia, Ukraine hold second day of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi")
Shashi Tharoor's son Ishaan among staff hit by Washington Post layoffs
The US daily newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, eliminated around one-third of its staff, shutting down its sports section and cutting back several foreign bureaus and books coverage
 "Shashi Tharoor's son Ishaan among staff hit by Washington Post layoffs")
Strong global sales lift Sony Q3 profit 11%, boosts annual outlook
Sony, which makes PlayStation game consoles, "Spider-Man" movies, Walkman players and Bravia TVs, raised its profit forecast for the full fiscal year through March 2026 to $7.2 billion
 "Strong global sales lift Sony Q3 profit 11%, boosts annual outlook")