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NIIT Learning Systems acquires US-based SweetRush in $26 million deal
NIIT Learning Systems (NIIT Managed Training Services) on Saturday announced it has acquired SweetRush, a US-based firm that provides AI-led custom learning experience design and strategic training interventions, for a total consideration of up to USD 26 million. The acquisition was made through a wholly-owned subsidiary, NIIT (USA), Inc., according to a release. The aggregate USD 26 million tag includes annual performance-based earnouts over the next five years, subject to certain customary adjustments in accordance with definitive agreements. Headquartered in San Francisco, USA, SweetRush was founded in 2001 by Arturo Schwartzberg and Andrei Hedstrom. It operates with over 100 team members and an extended pool of industry experts across the United States and Costa Rica, supported by a broader pool of learning professionals. "The union brings together SweetRush's custom, AI-enabled, human-centred learning experience design with NIIT's global managed learning scale," NIIT Learnings
 "NIIT Learning Systems acquires US-based SweetRush in $26 million deal")
Iran protests escalate: Complete blackout; Will US intervene? | Iran-US
Iran is witnessing one of its most intense waves of unrest in years. What began as anger over a collapsing economy has now turned into a nationwide challenge to the country’s leadership.
 "Iran protests escalate: Complete blackout; Will US intervene? | Iran-US")
Will shoot first, ask later: Denmark warns US against Greenland invasion | Trump | US News | Nato
Denmark has sent a strong signal to Washington, warning that its troops are authorised to respond immediately if Greenland is threatened.
 "Will shoot first, ask later: Denmark warns US against Greenland invasion | Trump | US News | Nato")
India-led ISA to keep working to meet goals despite US withdrawal
The withdrawal would mean ceasing of US participation and funding to these organisations
 "India-led ISA to keep working to meet goals despite US withdrawal")
Trump’s global exit plan: Why the US is leaving 66 organisations | US News | Trump tariffs
US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations, including 31 UN bodies.
 "Trump’s global exit plan: Why the US is leaving 66 organisations | US News | Trump tariffs")
Anil Agarwal grieves son Agnivesh's death, calls it his darkest day
Agnivesh Agarwal, the eldest son of mining billionaire Anil Agarwal, passed away in the US. He was 49. Agnivesh, who was on the board of Vedanta group firm Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), was recovering from an undisclosed illness at the time of his death. Anil Agarwal has two children: his late son, Agnivesh, and a daughter, Priya, who is on the board of Vedanta and chairperson of Hindustan Zinc Limited.
 "Anil Agarwal grieves son Agnivesh's death, calls it his darkest day")
US move on Venezuela oil lifts Reliance Industries, ONGC prospects
Indian oil companies that have invested in oil exploration projects in Venezuela might also be able to recover stuck dividends, with the US operating Venezuela's oil assets
 "US move on Venezuela oil lifts Reliance Industries, ONGC prospects")
US forces seize Venezuela's Maduro, fly him to New York to face charges
President Trump said that no American troops had been killed and that no military equipment had been lost during the operation
 "US forces seize Venezuela's Maduro, fly him to New York to face charges")
US will run Venezuela after US forces capture Maduro, says Trump
Trump said the US would for now manage the South American nation of about 30 million people plus its oil reserves, the largest in the world. But he gave few details of how
 "US will run Venezuela after US forces capture Maduro, says Trump")
Trump's plan to revitalise Venezuela's oil industry faces major hurdles
President Donald Trump's plan to take control of Venezuela's oil industry and ask American companies to revitalise it after capturing President Nicolas Maduro in a raid isn't likely to have a significant immediate impact on oil prices. Venezuela's oil industry is in disrepair after years of neglect and international sanctions, so it could take years and major investments before production can increase dramatically. But some analysts are optimistic that Venezuela could double or triple its current output of about 1.1 million barrels of oil a day to return to historic levels fairly quickly. While many are reporting Venezuela's oil infrastructure was unharmed by US military actions, it has been decaying for many, many years and will take time to rebuild, said Patrick De Haan, who is the lead petroleum analyst at gasoline price tracker GasBuddy. American oil companies will want a stable regime in the country before they are willing to invest heavily, and the political picture remained .
US-Venezuela conflict unlikely to affect India trade: GTRI report
The US-Venezuela conflict will have a negligible impact on India's trade with the South American country, think tank GTRI said on Sunday. On January 4, American forces carried out a large military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and taking them to the US to face various charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. "India faces negligible impact, as trade with Venezuela has collapsed under sanctions, with crude imports down 81.3 per cent in FY2025 and overall bilateral trade remaining marginal," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivastava said. For India, he said, the Venezuelan disturbance is unlikely to have any material economic or energy impact. Although India was a major buyer of Venezuelan crude in the 2000s and 2010s, bilateral engagement has weakened sharply since 2019 due to US sanctions, which forced India to cut oil imports and scale back commercial activity to avoid secondary sanctions, he added.
 "US-Venezuela conflict unlikely to affect India trade: GTRI report")
US returns to WTO reform debate, but on terms that unsettle the system
The US' memorandum is revealing of the various ways in which Washington now believes - to an extent across parties - that the WTO is not working properly
 "US returns to WTO reform debate, but on terms that unsettle the system")
Newsmakers@2025: People behind the year's firsts, farewells, flashpoints
From historic breakthroughs and leadership changes to legacy battles and cultural reckonings, people who shaped the year
 "Newsmakers@2025: People behind the year's firsts, farewells, flashpoints")
2025: When multilateralism weakened, but global trade remained resilient
In 2025, multilateral trade rules weakened as the US raised tariffs, yet global trade stayed resilient, led by strong supply chains, China's leverage and India's adaptive policy response
 "2025: When multilateralism weakened, but global trade remained resilient")
Caribbean crisis: US actions in Venezuela threaten India's economy
Mr Trump's claim that Mr Maduro is emptying his prisons and illegally flooding the US with criminal elements and that the country is a major source of drug trafficking lacks foundation
 "Caribbean crisis: US actions in Venezuela threaten India's economy")
US peace plan for Ukraine are moving ahead constructively, says Russia
A Kremlin envoy says peace talks on a US-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were pressing on "constructively in Florida. The talks are part of the Trump administration's monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow, Kirill Dmitriev told reporters Saturday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Dmitriev met with US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami, the agency reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that much will depend on the US posture after discussions with the Russians. This came a day after Ukraine's chief negotiator said his delegation had completed separate meetings in the United States with American and European partners. Trump has unleashed an extensive ...
 "US peace plan for Ukraine are moving ahead constructively, says Russia")
US weekly jobless claims fall as labour market remains stable in December
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ended December 13, the Labor Department said on Thursday
 "US weekly jobless claims fall as labour market remains stable in December")
US core inflation unexpectedly eases to slowest pace since 2021
The report was complicated by the federal government shutdown, which prevented the BLS from collecting much of the October price data
 "US core inflation unexpectedly eases to slowest pace since 2021")
Venezuela inflation soars 500% as Trump intensifies pressure on Maduro
The inflation rate soared to 556 per cent in the 12 months through Dec. 17, up from 219 per cent at the end of June and 45 per cent in 2024, according to a weekly index compiled by Bloomberg News
 "Venezuela inflation soars 500% as Trump intensifies pressure on Maduro")
Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' for troops amid inflation fears
Trump announced the plan Wednesday during a prime-time address from the White House meant to extol his accomplishments this year and assuage Americans increasingly worried about their cost of living
 "Trump announces $1,776 'Warrior Dividend' for troops amid inflation fears")