World News
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
 "Trump orders total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuela")
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")
India, Ethiopia share vision for peace, security and Global South: PM Modi
Modi, who arrived here on Tuesday on his maiden bilateral visit, said it was wonderful to be in Ethiopia, the land of lions, as he greeted lawmakers in the local language, 'Tena yistilign, Salaam'
 "India, Ethiopia share vision for peace, security and Global South: PM Modi")
Why Asim Munir's third US trip may cost him support of Pakistanis
Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir is expected to travel to Washington for a third time in six months, amid discussions on a proposed US-backed force to stabilise Gaza
 "Why Asim Munir's third US trip may cost him support of Pakistanis")
Meta moves to single age-check system as global child safety rules tighten
Meta aims to roll out one age-check system for Facebook and Instagram as global child safety laws grow and pressure on tech firms increases
 "Meta moves to single age-check system as global child safety rules tighten")
Suspected gunman in Bondi Beach massacre charged with 15 counts of murder
The 24-year-old man was charged in Sydney hospital on Wednesday, where he has been since police shot him and his gunman father at Bondi
 "Suspected gunman in Bondi Beach massacre charged with 15 counts of murder")
Japan's exports rise 6% in November as shipments to US bounce back
The preliminary data released Wednesday showed Japan's total imports rose 1.3 per cent last month over a year earlier
 "Japan's exports rise 6% in November as shipments to US bounce back")
Top Trump aide says he has 'alcoholic's personality'; US President responds
In a Vanity Fair interview, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles suggested that Elon Musk is a 'drug user', and called US Vice President Vance a 'conspiracy theorist'
 "Top Trump aide says he has 'alcoholic's personality'; US President responds")
Asian shares mixed as Trump orders blockade of oil tankers to Venezuela
Tokyo's Nikkei 225 shed 0.3 per cent to 49,237.58. Traders awaited a decision on an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan later in the week
 "Asian shares mixed as Trump orders blockade of oil tankers to Venezuela")
Consumer goods firms shorten CEO tenures amid growth push, market pressures
Up to the end of the third quarter of 2025, there were 176 incoming CEOs worldwide, a 9% year-on-year rise
 "Consumer goods firms shorten CEO tenures amid growth push, market pressures")
Amazon's Luxembourg hub faces 370 job cuts, the biggest in two decades
Amazon's European headquarters in Luxembourg will see 370 job cuts in the coming weeks, the biggest in over 20 years, as the company trims staff and shifts focus to AI
 "Amazon's Luxembourg hub faces 370 job cuts, the biggest in two decades")
Amazon in talks to invest in OpenAI as AI firm eyes $500 billion valuation
The potential deal comes at a time when OpenAI is laying the groundwork for an initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion
 "Amazon in talks to invest in OpenAI as AI firm eyes $500 billion valuation")
Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners backs out of Warner Bros takeover plan
Earlier this month, Affinity emerged as a participant in Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Bros, a proposal that valued the Hollywood studio at approximately $108.4 billion
 "Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners backs out of Warner Bros takeover plan")
Cost of proposed White House ballroom may now reach $400 mn, says Trump
The White House has said it's being financed by private donations, but has not publicly specified them - raising questions about which people or companies might fund it to curry favour with Trump
 "Cost of proposed White House ballroom may now reach $400 mn, says Trump")
Japan weighs record 120 trillion yen budget as PM Takaichi fights inflation
If approved, the plan would cross the previous record 115.2 trillion yen initial budget that was cleared under former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba for fiscal 2025
 "Japan weighs record 120 trillion yen budget as PM Takaichi fights inflation")
Why China's graduates are choosing government jobs over private firms
China's weak economy and job cuts in private firms are pushing young graduates towards government jobs, with record applicants chasing stable careers despite tough competition
 "Why China's graduates are choosing government jobs over private firms")
