trade assistance fund

India's second-largest shareholder, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has launched a $10 billion fund to aid member nations grappling with the Middle East conflict's economic fallout. This facility offers crucial support for energy and food security, alongside economic resilience, through fast-disbursing aid and liquidity for affected countries and businesses.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has clarified that Pershing Square's sale of Alphabet (Google) shares was not a bearish call on the company. Ackman said his hedge fund offloaded its long-held Google stake to fund a fresh $2.1 billion Microsoft position, betting on the software giant's AI prospects, Azure cloud growth, and Copilot adoption after a steep stock decline this year.

India's economy has faced significant challenges from global oil price surges over the past fifty years. From the 1973 Arab embargo to the recent Hormuz disruption, these shocks have impacted inflation and foreign exchange reserves. Policymakers have continuously adapted strategies to manage these crises, balancing economic stability with consumer needs.

A decades-old investigation into drug lord Iqbal Memon alias Mirchi's assets has unearthed a complex web of transactions. The Enforcement Directorate is probing the illegal takeover and sale of prime Mumbai real estate, leading to arrests of associates and businessmen. Documents revealed Mirchi's transnational operations and family disputes that may have led to the leak of sensitive information.

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The US has sanctioned ten individuals and companies, including those in China and Hong Kong, for aiding Iran's drone and ballistic missile programs. These measures aim to curb Iran's military capabilities and its threat to regional shipping. The sanctions target entities involved in procuring weapons components and raw materials, with a warning to foreign firms engaged in illicit Iranian trade.

A New Jersey firm, Royal Sovereign, has been fined $8 million and ordered to pay over $395,000 in restitution for concealing dangerously defective air conditioners linked to over 40 fires and one fatality. The company knowingly sold thousands of units with a faulty motor, leading to a recall and a guilty plea for violating consumer safety laws.

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth shut down any hopes of opting out of the company's new AI tracking tool, telling employees directly that there's no choice in the matter. The Model Capability Initiative logs keystrokes, mouse movements, and screenshots on work computers to train Meta's AI agents—all while the company prepares to cut 8,000 jobs. Employees are calling it dystopian. Meta is calling it necessary.

TNN

Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are set for a courtroom showdown over OpenAI's founding mission. Musk alleges Altman and OpenAI abandoned their nonprofit roots for profit, a claim OpenAI dismisses as a distraction fueled by Musk's rival AI venture, xAI. This high-stakes trial delves into the origins and evolution of AI's most influential companies.

To be trained in carpentry, cooking, gardening and other professions

Delhi Police have identified Babbar Khalsa International operatives Manu Agwan and Maninder Billa as chief handlers of a newly uncovered espionage-terror module. The investigation revealed a shift in ISI's recruitment tactics, targeting educated youth alongside traditional laborers. This sophisticated network facilitated arms trafficking, narco-smuggling, and high-tech surveillance, funded through a mix of illegal proceeds and UPI transactions.