Khawaja Asif's claim that Pakistan won't need IMF in six months to save it from economic collapse runs into a wall worth $10.6 billion, Moneycontrol reported. Pakistan managed to convert its Operation Sindoor-linked propaganda into defence deals worth billions. However, the deals won't be able to single-handedly save Pakistan from economic ruin as it owes $10.6 billion to IMF alone.

A post by a Reddit user stated that their company has restricted employees from using LinkedIn freely. The user said employees had been instructed not to like, comment on, or engage with LinkedIn posts from any other company and also discouraged the use of the "open to work" badge. "Reason given…professionalism…company image. LinkedIn isn’t internal company property," the user said.

Bureau of Labor Statistics said US nonfarm productivity rose at a 4.9% annualized pace in Q3, up sharply from a year earlier, as output climbed 5.4%. Unit labor costs fell 1.9%. Meanwhile, weekly jobless claims edged up to 208,000 but stayed below expectations, while December job cuts fell to a 17-month low.

Paramount Skydance said its $30-per-share offer for Warner Bros. Discovery is superior to the proposed deal with Netflix, claiming it has addressed all concerns raised by WBD. Paramount Skydance shares were slightly lower, while Warner Bros, Discovery and Netflix stocks also declined in early trading.

Applied Digital shares jumped over 16% after Roth Capital reiterated its Buy rating and raised its price target to $58, citing strong AI infrastructure demand. The firm highlighted growing customer interest and large-scale project discussions. Applied Digital reported a 250% year-on-year jump in Q2 revenue to $126.6 million, with 600 MW already under contract.

A trader claimed that multiple traders bet on prediction marketplace Polymarket on the duration of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's January 7 presser. The presser had a 98% chance of running over 65 minutes, "until Leavitt abruptly ended it" with 28 seconds to spare. He further claimed that traders who bet on 'no' made 50x gains in seconds.

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, in a response to Reuters, said it will consider buying Venezuelan oil if permitted for sale to non-US buyers. "We await clarity on access for Venezuelan oil by non-US buyers and will consider buying…in a compliant manner," a Reliance Industries spokesperson said. Notably, Venezuela will export up to $2 billion worth of oil to US.

Ondas Holdings shares rose about 11% after reports said its subsidiary Airobotics was selected by the Israel Ministry of Defense for the Drone Hives border surveillance project. The stock also drew support from proposed higher U.S. defense spending and ahead of Ondas Jan. 16 Investor Day.

Varthana has raised a $6 million loan from WaterEquity to expand access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in underserved schools across India. The funds will support infrastructure upgrades, new installations and maintenance of WASH systems, helping improve health, attendance and learning outcomes for students in low-income communities.

Articul8 AI has closed an oversubscribed Series B funding round, pushing its valuation past $500 million. The capital will be used to scale its artificial intelligence products, expand global operations and accelerate research and development. The startup focuses on enterprise AI solutions designed to help organisations automate workflows, improve efficiency and drive digital transformation.