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Barack Obama praises the 'power of pluralism' while some Democrats try to pass the torch. In the weeks following Vice President Kamala Harris' election defeat, former U.S. President Barack Obama has largely remained silent. However, on Thursday, he urged a new generation of American leaders to engage in dialogue with those they disagree with, as quoted in a report by Reuters. The former president expressed his conviction that a renewed dedication to pluralist principles was necessary to secure democracy's survival during a speech at a Democracy Forum organised by his foundation. The alternative is what we've witnessed in the US and many other democracies across the world: not only more deadlock but also a greater willingness on the part of politicians and their supporters to flout democratic norms and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

Total nonfarm payrolls published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics today (6 December) came in above market expectations, with economists polled by Reuters expecting that figure to stand at 200,000. The employment data for November marked a significant increase from the upwardly-revised figure of 36,000 for October. US economy expands by 2.8% in Q3 Meanwhile, the unemployment rate increased from 4.1% in October to 4.2% last month, higher than a year ago, when the jobless rate was 3.7%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest increase in nonfarm payroll...

Apple is preparing to launch its long-awaited series of cellular modem chips next year, which will replace components from longtime partner Qualcomm, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The iPhone maker is looking to ultimately overtake Qualcomm's technology by 2027, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Qualcomm, a leading designer of modem chips that connect phones to mobile data networks, has warned investors that Apple will eventually stop using its chips.

Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night, plunging the country into its worst crisis in decades, his stunned finance minister knew his priorities: throw everything at defending the currency. By around 11 p.m., Choi Sang-mok, who was among the majority of cabinet members who opposed martial law, had set up an emergency meeting at the Seoul Bankers Club, an unofficial meeting place for top policymakers from the central bank, finance ministry and banking and markets regulators. As soldiers stormed the nation's parliament, Korea's top four financial authorities, known as F4, activated an emergency playbook that had been used during past crises, scrambling to head off a crippling selloff in the won before Asian markets awoke. Choi led discussions between the authorities, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters, with the Bank of Korea responsible for efforts to stabilise the currency.

Neuralink brain technology company was found to have «objectionable conditions or practices» by the Food and Drug Administration, which cited the company and urged it to address the problems. FDA inspectors identified the issues at Neuralink's animal testing facilities in California in June 2023, several weeks after the agency had given the company the green light for a small study of its brain implant in humans, according to the letter to Congress dated November 29. The agency was responding to concerns raised by Earl Blumenauer, a House Democrat from Oregon who has focused on animal welfare.

Los Angeles Times owner has revealed that the newspaper will have «bias meter» attached with articles on website from next year, as per a report. The «bias meter» will include comments and multiple viewpoints, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Meanwhile, AI search startup Perplexity said on Thursday it was adding more than a dozen new media partners, including the Los Angeles Times and The Independent, to its program where it shares a portion of ad revenue with the publishers, Reuters reported. In its first set of partners from regions including Japan, Spain and Latin America, Perplexity said companies such as Prisa Media and Newspicks will now be part of the publishers' program, joining existing partners like TIME, Der Spiegel and Fortune.

Gold prices in December may rise if the US Dollar goes into tepid mode. Meanwhile, gold rates remained steadied on Thursday, as per a report on Reuters. Spot gold held its ground at $2,649.69 per ounce, as of 1221 (GMT). The US gold futures also eased 0.1 per cent to $2,673.30. Investors held back from placing big bets ahead of the US non-farm payrolls data that could influence the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory as markets awaited this year's final policy-setting meeting. Traders are pricing in a 74 per cent chance of a 25-basis-point cut at the Fed's December 17-18 meeting, according to the CME Group's FedWatch Tool. Bullion, which does not pay any interest, historically performs well in a low-interest rate environment.

finished steel imports from China reached an all-time high during the first seven months of the current financial year from April, according to provisional government data reviewed by Reuters, rattling hundreds of small Indian steel producers. China, the world's biggest steel producer, shipped 1.7 million metric tons of finished steel to India during April-October, a 35.4% increase year-on-year, the data showed. This has exacerbated the deteriorating financial health of Indian steel producers struggling with cheap Chinese imports and falling domestic prices despite robust demand driven by rapid economic growth and rising infrastructure spending in the world's fastest growing major economy.

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euro rose marginally against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, but came off session highs, after a widely expected collapse of the French government following a no-confidence vote by opposition lawmakers. The greenback, on the other hand, was little changed overall, as the December interest rate cut chances remained on track amid signs that the American economy was slowing.

Brent crude futures climbed 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $72.43 a barrel by 0103 GMT while U.S. crude futures were at $68.70 a barrel, up 16 cents, or 0.2%.

Brian Thompson's killing outside The Hilton Midtown Manhattan hotel in New York on Wednesday has posed tough questions against security and safety in one of the most posh localities not only in the US but also in the world. This comes at a time when the US and New York are gearing up to celebrate Christmas 2024, as per a report. New York City police officials said that it was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack. Thompson was fatally shot on Wednesday morning outside the hotel in what appeared to be a targeted attack by a gunman lying in wait. Thompson was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said the gunman remains at large, Reuters reported. Police tape blocked off the area on 54th Street outside the Hilton on Wednesday morning, where blue plastic gloves were strewn about and plastic cups appeared to mark the location of bullet casings.

Cargill’s plans to slash thousands of jobs across its global workforce are not expected to impact front-line, unionized positions in Canada, according to the union representing the bulk of the food giant’s Canadian workers.

US services sector activity slowed in November after posting big gains in recent months, but remained above levels consistent with solid economic growth in the fourth quarter. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) said on Wednesday that its nonmanufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) slipped to 52.1 last month after surging to 56.0 in October, which was the highest level since August 2022. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the services PMI easing to 55.5. A PMI reading above 50 indicates growth in the services sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy. The ISM views PMI readings above 49 over time as generally indicating an expansion of the overall economy.

Gold prices were steady on Wednesday as safe-haven demand countered a slight recovery in the U.S. dollar while markets await U.S. jobs data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for clues on the U.S. central bank's policy outlook, as per a Reuters report. Spot gold was steady at $2,644.48 an ounce by 1100 (GMT). U.S. gold futures were down 0.1 per cent at $2,666.30, Reuters reported. The dollar index reflected strength that makes dollar-priced bullion costlier for buyers with other currencies.

Tan, a well-respected semiconductor industry veteran who has long been seen as a contender for CEO at Intel, has been approached by Intel's board in recent days to gauge his interest in taking up the job, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the discussions are confidential. Intel's board is mostly evaluating outsider candidates for the role and has also approached Marvell Technology CEO Matt Murphy, two of the sources said.

Pernod Ricard concluded that top executives at its India business violated the law by colluding with alcohol retailers in New Delhi, according to a document seen by Reuters, even as the French giant's representatives denied wrongdoing in court and publicly. PRI told Reuters in January and February 2023 that it «strongly» denies the Enforcement Directorate allegations, calling them «factually incorrect.» As recently as Sept. 4, lawyers for Benoy Babu, a PRI executive named in Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas's report, asked the Delhi High Court to quash the case against him. They said allegations against Babu, who was briefly jailed pending trial last year, were «false and baseless», and authorities were relying on «hearsay evidence». The court has yet to rule on Babu's non-public filing, which was seen by Reuters. He didn't respond to questions from the news agency.

Agricultural powerhouse Cargill, one of the world’s biggest privately held firms with thousands of Canadian employees, is slashing its global workforce as part of a major restructuring effort.

Job openings, a measure of labor demand, had risen 372,000 to 7.744 million by the last day of October, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report, on Tuesday. Data for September was revised lower to show 7.372 million unfilled positions instead of the previously reported 7.443 million. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 7.475 million vacancies. Hires fell 269,000 to 5.313 million. Layoffs decreased 169,000 to 1.633 million.

Joe Biden pardoning his son Hinter in the fag end of the Presidential tenure. While some of them have directly hit out at Biden over his choice, some of them feared it was due to fear of President-elect Donald Trump's political vendetta once he takes charge. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, reversing his earlier pledge to leave the legal proceedings entirely up to the judicial system. Hunter Biden had pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges and faced upcoming sentencing, as per a Reuters report. The Democratic president's pardon comes as Republican President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to go after his political opposition, prepares to take office January 20, Reuters reported.

Oil prices edged up on Monday supported by upbeat factory activity in the world's second largest oil consumer China and as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement, stoking tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude futures climbed 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $71.92 a barrel by 0107 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $68.09 a barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.1%.