INDIA
India’s Russia oil trade may dip again, stranding cargoes at sea
Ship-tracking data and people familiar with the matter point to a dip that would come after imports fell in December to a three-year low. That was a third below their peak in June
WORLD
Trump effect? Foreign enrollment on US campuses drops for first time in years
The number of international students across the country dropped by close to 5,000, even as the overall number of students grew by 1%
BUSINESS
KKR Asia credit fund draws 75% new investors as decoupling rises
The optimism around Asian private credit runs counter to a broader global pullback
WORLD
Trump holds off on critical minerals tariffs after probe
The president is floating price floors on imports — not just traditional percentage-based tariffs — to develop the supply chains for those materials that run through US-aligned nations
WORLD
Paramount names new CFO amid contest with Netflix for Warner Bros.
Dennis Cinelli, who has previous experience at Uber Technologies Inc. and at Scale AI, replaces interim CFO Andrew Warren, Paramount said
WORLD
XAI blocks Grok from creating sexualized images of real people
The changes apply to all users on X, including premium subscribers, the company said
BUSINESS
Oil falls after Trump signals US response to Iran is on hold
Brent dropped as much as 2.9% to trade below $65 a barrel after gaining about 11% over the past week while West Texas Intermediate was near $60
INDIA
BMC polls: Megacity Mumbai votes to fix ailing infrastructure for millions
Voters will elect leaders for a civic governing body with a budget of almost Rs 80,000 crore, the richest in the country and about five times that of national capital New Delhi
BUSINESS
Blistering metals rally sends gold, silver, copper to records
Frenzied buying in China across multiple metals has stoked the recent moves while investors have been seeking safe havens amid geopolitical flashpoints
MARKETS
Asia stocks weak after Wall Street declines, oil falls
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 1%, while US equity-index futures dropped 0.1% and contracts indicated weaker opens for Hong Kong and mainland China
WORLD
Keep calm if Donald Trump loses tariff case, trade expert urges nations
The court’s decision could come as early as 10 a.m. in Washington, though the wait for the opinion may extend until June.
BUSINESS
China’s 2025 trade surplus hits record $1.2 trillion despite US tariffs
Shipments to regions like Southeast Asia and Europe made up for a deepening plunge in sales to the US in December, with overall exports increasing 6.6% from a year earlier.
BUSINESS
Cocoa gets cheaper but chocolate makers are still holding back
Most beans processed in the fourth quarter were likely bought before the sharp price slump, meaning the relief has yet to filter through the supply chain.
BUSINESS
Silver hits record, gold rises on geopolitical and Fed risks
The white metal advanced as much as 3.5% to touch $89.9965 an ounce, while gold traded near an all-time peak.
WORLD
Scientists confirm 2025 was third-hottest year, trailing 2024 and 2023
What makes this result extraordinary, scientists say, is that 2025 saw a cooling phase in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, or La Niña, that suppresses global temperatures.
WORLD
Dark fleet seeks Russian protection as US seizes oil tankers
At least 26 ships have switched registration to Russia since the beginning of last month, with the bulk of those happening after the US snatched the Skipper supertanker off the coast of Venezuela on Dec. 10, according to Starboard Maritime Intelligence data.
WORLD
Trump says he’ll end sanctuary city payments by month’s end
Trump said his administration had also given “90-day notices” to states like California who would bill the federal government to defray costs associated with caring for new migrants.
BUSINESS
US clears path for Nvidia to sell H200s to China via new rule
The Commerce Department said it will review applications for AI chip exports to China on a case-by-case basis, easing a previous US stance presuming denial of any request for permission to sell to customers in the Asian country.
BUSINESS
World Bank boosts 2026 economic outlook, citing ‘notable’ resilience
Real gross domestic product is now projected to rise by 2.6% in 2026, up from a June forecast of 2.4%, the Washington-based lender said in a report Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Netflix weighs amending Warner Bros. bid to make it all cash
Under the original agreement, Warner Bros. shareholders were to receive $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix common stock, with certain adjustments in place if shares of the streaming giant fall below $97.91.
BUSINESS
Asian shares post small gain, Yen weakens past 159
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average advanced 0.9%, with the Japanese currency slipping past the 159-per-dollar level to the weakest since July 2024. Shares in South Korea edged up, having posted a gain on every trading day of 2026.
BUSINESS
Pentagon to invest $1 billion in L3Harris missile unit
L3Harris said it will keep a controlling interest in the Missile Solutions business. The company’s shares rose as much as 6.1% in morning trading.
BUSINESS
Two oil tankers attacked near key CPC terminal in Black Sea
The attacks risk further disrupting loadings at CPC, where planned shipments have already plunged due to bad winter weather and a mooring damage in a November drone strike.
BUSINESS
JPMorgan weighs top rival bankers to lead India expansion drive
Among those who have been approached are Sonjoy Chatterjee, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s India chief executive officer and chairman, and Pramit Jhaveri, who formerly led Citigroup in the country until 2019, according to the people.
