The Economic Times

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has accepted the election results and started consultations with party leaders. Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority in the Knesset, while Arab-led parties made significant gains. The elections commission reported no evidence of fraud, despite Netanyahu's allegations. Herzog emphasized the importance of public trust in the electoral process during his consultations. If coalition talks fail, Israel may face another election in the near future.

Jonathan Garson will assume the role of president at Pixar Animation Studios on January 4. He will replace Jim Morris, who has served as president for 12 years. Morris will remain involved with upcoming projects in a different capacity after stepping back. Garson has been with Pixar since 2010 and has extensive experience with Disney. Pixar's upcoming films include 'Gatto' and 'Incredibles 3', scheduled for release in 2027 and 2028.

The US federal government is preparing to reveal the regulations applicable to domestic AI labs. Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael announced that details will be shared in a couple of weeks. The Super Intelligence Task Force was established to regulate AI policy following concerns about industry practices. Michael emphasized the importance of creating a regulatory framework that builds public confidence.

Beijing: A sweeping victory for Democrats in US midterm elections this week, giving them control of Congress, presents both an opportunity and challenge for top rival China, analysts say.Here is how the outcome of the vote, which offers the Democratic Party the power to stymie President Donald Trump's maverick foreign policy, could impact the thorny relationship between Washington and Beijing:Will tariffs be limited? Winning control of both houses in the US Congress puts Democrats in a position

S Jaishankar met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Antigua and Barbuda for CHOGM 2026 discussions. They focused on strengthening economic partnerships under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of digital solutions and climate initiatives during a Commonwealth meeting. He highlighted local distribution networks and the role of the Indian business community in fostering connections.

Crude oil prices declined sharply on Wednesday, with Brent prices falling below the $100 mark on hopes of a peace deal in the Iran war following the Democrats' victory in the US midterm elections.Brent crude prices were trading over 8% lower at $94.91 a barrel while WTI oil was at $88.42 a barrel.For live updates on US Markets, click hereDemocratic victories have prompted investors to reassess the US administration's approach to the Iran conflict. Markets are speculating that President Donald Tr

Pharma companies could have their drug licenses suspended immediately if quality tests indicate failure. The health ministry's proposed changes aim to protect public health by enforcing swift action on substandard medications. Regulators would take action upon receiving a government analyst's report declaring a drug not of standard quality. Manufacturers would need to perform a root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to lift the suspension.

Mercedes-Benz plans to increase its local manufacturing efforts while expanding its supplier base in India. The luxury carmaker expects to achieve record annual sales if the current trend continues. Ola Kallenius, the global chairman, highlighted the potential for Indian suppliers to support global operations. The company has committed an additional investment of 200 crore, raising total investments to 3,200 crore.

Democrats achieved significant victories in the midterm elections, resulting in control of both Congressional chambers. Many seats were flipped across previously Republican strongholds with stark voter dissatisfaction influencing results. Notably, Trump-backed candidates faced substantial defeats in multiple states like South Carolina and North Carolina. The outcomes revealed limitations in Trump's political influence and a shift toward Democratic representation.

India's manufacturing sector is characterized by a significant concentration in large factories generating substantial output. Factories producing over 500 crore contribute to more than three-fifths of total value added. Smaller factories represent a large number but have minimal output and value contribution. The overall manufacturing corporate sector experienced a notable growth in gross value added year-on-year. However, per-worker value creation did not witness similar growth despite increas

The Union Cabinet has approved a significant 14,500 crore funding scheme to develop 92 GWh of energy storage capacity. This initiative supports both hydro pumped storage and battery energy storage systems aimed at accelerating renewable energy. Additionally, a scheme has been approved for processing critical minerals like lithium and nickel to reduce import dependency. The government aims to modernize its statistical system with a 4,371.10 crore scheme.

Securities and Exchange Board of India has relaxed Know Your Client requirements for overseas investors. This change enables non-resident Indians, Overseas Citizens of India, and foreign nationals to onboard digitally. Individuals from FATF-compliant countries can now submit KYC details remotely without being in India. Intermediaries are allowed to rely on existing KYC records and conduct video verifications when necessary.

Growth in India's services sector increased to a four-month high in October due to strong domestic demand and business orders. The HSBC Services Business Activity Index rose to 55.8, reflecting improved business conditions. Conversely, manufacturing activity showed a slight decline, easing to a PMI of 54.7. While input prices continued to rise, the rate of increase was the slowest in over six years.

Ranbir Kapoor has revealed that his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Raha has shot a scene with Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey for his new film Ramayana. The actor spoke about how Raha developed an interest in the epic through stories narrated by him and Alia Bhatt. His revelation comes as the film receives encouraging early reviews, with people calling it 'highly enjoyable' and praising its scale and storytelling.

The sanctions are part of the Trump administration's Operation Economic Outcast, which aims to cut off Iran's ability to sell oil to fund the war with the United States.

More than 67% of street vendors in India currently accept UPI payments for transactions. A proposed 0.4% merchant discount rate could lead to reduced acceptance among vendors. Concerns arise particularly for vendor-supplier transactions, as many vendors make payments above 2,000. A significant portion of vendors faced additional charges from suppliers and might pass costs onto customers.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India recently introduced the Network Anubhav Platform for consumers. This new platform allows users to compare mobile and broadband networks based on location and performance. Consumers can view network tests, filter results, and make informed choices about service providers.

Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr met at a hostel in Peru in 2019, fell in love and eventually built a life together on Honduras' island of Roatn, where they opened a boutique hotel in 2023. The couple, who shared a passion for travel and adventure, were among nine people killed in a Florida Learjet crash while travelling to the Bahamas. Their journey from a chance meeting to building a Caribbean hospitality business has been remembered by friends, family and hotel staff.

Patients treated with sirolimus-coated balloons were more likely to remain free from repeat procedures to reopen blocked leg arteries than those receiving paclitaxel-coated balloons, according to three-year results from the SIRONA clinical trial presented at TCT 2026. While both treatments showed similar improvements in walking ability and quality of life, researchers said the findings require confirmation through five-year follow-up.

The US Energy Department will loan 300,000 barrels of fuel oil from its emergency heating reserve to four companies to ease supply pressures and rising prices ahead of winter. The release, nearly a third of the reserve, follows calls from bipartisan senators as Middle East disruptions linked to the Iran war push fuel costs higher.

World leaders welcomed the Democrats' gains in the US midterm elections, hoping the setback for Donald Trump's Republicans could ease tensions over Washington's foreign policy. However, European and other allies cautioned that the results may not change Trump's approach to Iran, Ukraine, tariffs or NATO, as the president retains considerable freedom in foreign affairs.

The civil aviation ministry has circulated the draft National Policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuels which mandates use of only indigenously manufactured SAF to be blended with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

US stock market update: Dow Jones rallies today after Democrats win Congress - Democrats have won both the Senate and the House, and the stock market liked it. By 10:44 am ET on Wednesday, the Dow Jones was up 1,245 points, or 2.40%, at 53,032. The S&P 500 rose 1.52% and the Nasdaq gained 1.82%. But not every stock joined in. Data centre companies, Tesla and SpaceX fell. Democrats made gains in Texas and Georgia, where public opposition to new data centres is growing, and investors fear tighter

Madonna revealed why she refused to give her youngest son David a mobile phone at 13 after regretting the decision with her older children, Lourdes and Rocco. In a 2019 Vogue interview, the singer said smartphones and social media affected her relationship with them, exposing them to constant images and comparisons with others. Here's what she said about her parenting decision and how technology changed her relationship with her children.

International airlines currently operating from Mumbai airport are given options to temporarily suspend operations or relocate. Discussions are ongoing with various international carriers regarding this transition. Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have agreed to shift certain operations.

HDFC Bank has received government authorisation to offer deposits under the Capital Gains Accounts Scheme (CGAS), 1988. The facility will allow taxpayers to park unused capital gains in savings accounts or fixed deposits for up to three years while retaining eligibility for applicable tax exemptions and earning interest on their deposits.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has set March 31, 2027, as the deadline for complete digitisation of DGFT services, including licence, permit and SCOMET approvals. From April 1, businesses will no longer need physical visits to government offices for these services. The move also includes digitising historical records and simplifying procedures.

Nitin Gadkari highlighted the need for better project preparation and accountability in urban road development initiatives. He expressed concern over the lack of proper signage on Indian highways and its role in accidents. Gadkari mentioned nearly 5 lakh road accidents each year, causing 1.8 lakh deaths in India. He proposed that urban planning requires integrated approaches among various transport agencies to optimize public resources.

Biocon anticipates a robust second half of FY27, supported by several key product launches and increasing insulin sales. The company noted a 52% decline in consolidated net profit, attributed to delayed shipments affecting quarterly revenue. Ustekinumab and Aflibercept biosimilars are projected to boost sales in the US market significantly. Additionally, the launch of Pertuzumab in Europe and Brazil is expected to generate substantial revenue.

Washington: The US trade deficit contracted slightly in September, government data showed on Wednesday, hovering close to its widest since March 2025, driven by capital and consumer goods imports and strong exports.The trade gap in the world's largest economy decreased by 0.6 percent to $105.0 billion, according to Commerce Department data.Track US Senate Elections Result 2026 Live Updates hereThis was below the $107.7 billion projected in a consensus forecast released on Marketwatch.US trade fl

Valuation expert Aswath Damodaran trimmed his valuation estimate for AI giant Anthropic to $1.45 trillion, from his earlier estimate of $1.475 trillion which was already lower than the industry estimates of $2 trillion.The 'Dean of Valuation' in a long blogpost said his earlier valuation estimate which was lower than the overall market view received strong reactions. Some of them were solely based on emotion, he said, as they held strong conviction in the company. Some of it was based on cost of