International Financial News

Palestine issue and an increasing number of nations are now not only endorsing it but considering it as «more urgent» than before, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday amid concerns over the prevailing situation in Gaza. Jaishankar made the remarks at an interactive session at a security conference in Munich in presence of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The external affairs minister described the October 7 attacks on Israeli cities by Hamas as «terrorism» but at the same time, referring to Tel Aviv's response, said Israel has an international obligation to observe the humanitarian law. Jaishankar said it is important that Israel should have been very mindful of civilian casualties.

The vast expanse of the maritime domain has long served as a conduit for global interaction, linking nations across continents. As such, navies worldwide have played a pivotal role as ambassadors, representing their countries’ diplomatic endeavors on the international stage. Situated strategically, the Indian subcontinent has historically been a hub for trade and international relations, facilitating the exchange of cultures, resources, assets, and ideas. In this context, the Indian Navy has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s efforts to maintain diplomatic relations with other nations, both militarily and diplomatically.

Wang Yi said China will be a «force for stability» in the world during a speech on Saturday at a major security conference in Germany. «No matter the changes in the international situation, China as a responsible major country will always maintain the continuity and stability of its major policies and resolutely stay a force for stability in a turbulent world,» Wang said.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has increased David Solomon’s compensation by 24% to $31 million, despite a year of diminished earnings for the Wall Street giant. The decision to boost the chief executive officer’s pay came amidst a challenging year, during which the firm witnessed a 24% decline in profit and focused on resolving internal conflicts while promoting a streamlined strategy.

Pernod Ricard has reported a 4 per growth in sales in the Indian market during the first half of the current financial year. The company, which follows July to June fiscal year, has witnessed a «strong market demand for spirits» in India, according to the latest earnings statement from Pernod Ricard. Moreover, a «strong growth» is expected in the second half (January to June 24) from India, which is the second largest market globally for Pernod Ricard after the US. Its international brands Jameson, Absolut and The Glenlivet reported a «very strong growth» in the Indian market during the period, the company said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here and appreciated her guidance in taking the 'India-Bangladesh Maitri' forward. This is Jaishankar's first meeting with Hasina after she returned to a record fifth term in January. The two leaders were meeting on the sidelines of the prestigious Munich Security Conference, in its 60th edition, which is the world's leading forum for debate on international security. «Honoured to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. Congratulated her on the renewed mandate. Appreciated her guidance for taking India Bangladesh Maitri forward,» Jaishankar posted on X along with a photograph. The Indian minister also met Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. India hosts the WHOSEAR, the top health body's South East Asia Region's headquarters.

Anmol Kharb is a fearless and intelligent player and her emergence is refreshing for Indian badminton, gushed chief National coach Pullela Gopichand after the teenager's impressive show at the Asia Team Championships. The 17-year-old from Faridabad humbled world number 29 Natsuki Nidaira in the deciding fifth match against Japan, a win that carried India into first-ever final in the prestigious tournament. Anmol, who won the senior national champion in December 2023, had also notched up a thrilling three-game win over China's Wu Luo Yu on Wednesday in their group match. This is her first major international assignment.

Allu Arjun, the charismatic star behind the blockbuster hit 'Pushpa: The Rise,' is all set to extend the franchise with the revelation of a third installment. The actor, currently basking in the limelight at the Berlin International Film Festival, hinted at the expansion of the Pushpa universe during a conversation with Variety.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Saturday that they had fired missiles at oil tanker Pollux, which U.S. officials said the previous day had been hit by a missile. The U.S. State Department said on Friday that the Pollux, a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India, was hit by a missile on its port side. «The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against a British oil ship (Pollux) in the Red Sea with a large number of appropriate naval missiles, and the strikes were accurate and direct», the Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement.

The US State Department announced on Friday that a Panamanian-flagged tanker transporting crude oil destined for India, was targeted by a missile in the Red Sea. According to the State Department, the missile, originating from Yemen, struck the M/T Pollux on its port side. Prior to this, both the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency and the British maritime security firm Ambrey had reported that a Panama-flagged tanker was allegedly hit approximately 72 nautical miles (133 km) northwest of Yemen’s port of Mokha.

Hong Kong customs officials have arrested seven people linked to the territory's largest money laundering case on record, involving about $1.8 billion

BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has extended an invitation to Congress leader Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath, the Chhindwara MP, to join their ranks. This move comes amidst swirling speculations about the duo's potential switch to the saffron party, a rumor vehemently denied by the Congress. State BJP president VD Sharma, addressing TOI reporters, stated that the doors of the BJP are open to those who align with their ideology and leadership, particularly those who were disheartened by the Congress leadership's decision to boycott the consecration ceremony of Lord Rama's idol in Ayodhya on Jan 22. He emphasized that the invitation is extended to anyone, including Kamal Nath and Nakul Nath, who resonate with the sentiments of Lord Rama held dear by many Indians. «By principle, our door is open to those who believe in our ideology and leadership, and are willing to do so under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi,» Sharma said.

Gold rate today: On account of the higher-than-expected US CPI data, gold price in the international market touched a two-month low of around $1,992 per ounce level. However, the yellow metal witnessed some value buying in the international market, which enabled the precious bullion metal to regain some of its lost ground in the last two weeks. However, this relief rally was not enough to pare the entire losses, and gold future contract on the multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) for April 2024 expiry ended lower for the second week in a row.

Donald Trump and his real estate company suffered a major defeat in New York’s civil fraud suit over his inflated asset valuations, after a judge barred the former president from running any business in the state for three years and ordered the return of $364 million in illegal profits. 

Emmsons International, a leading company, announced their Q3 FY24 results on 14th February 2024. The company reported that their revenue remained unchanged compared to the same period last year, showing a 0% YoY decline. However, their loss increased by 8.91% YoY.

Solo Leveling Episode 7 is set to continue the thrilling saga of Sung Jin-Woo as he faces new challenges and missions. With the release date approaching, fans are eager to delve deeper into the world of Solo Leveling.

World Trade Organization (WTO) to lower the cost of cross-border remittances for promoting international trade. In a submission made on Tuesday, New Delhi said one of the means to achieve cheaper, faster and more transparent and accessible cross-border payments including remittances is «promoting interoperability and interlinkages of digital payment infrastructures including fast payment systems». «Cost of remittance is an issue we have been raising. There is also a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on this,» said an official.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted David Solomon’s compensation 24 percent to $31 million for a year in which earnings slumped at the Wall Street giant.

Wipro is expected to see a decline. Additionally, the top firms collectively reduced their headcount by nearly 50,000 since last April, “GCCs will continue to grow. We have seen a lot of continued interest from the GCC ecosystem and GCCs coming into India in just the first two months of 2024," said Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president, Nasscom.

Alexei Navalny, the fiercest critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in prison Friday, according to international media reports citing Russian prison officials.

The Biden administration is stepping up efforts to stop dirty money from flowing through the U.S. financial system by crafting a slew of new rules aimed at increasing corporate transparency and regulating occupations that are exploited for money launde...