Layoffs in the United States hit a more than two-year high in January as technology firms cut jobs at the second-highest pace on record to brace for a possible recession, a report showed on Thursday.
The layoffs impacted 102,943 workers, a more than two-fold jump from December and an over five-times surge from a year earlier, according to the report from employment firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
Companies from Microsoft Corp to Amazon.com Inc and Goldman Sachs Group Inc cut thousands of jobs last month in a bid to ride out a demand downturn as consumer and corporate spending shrinks due to high inflation and rising interest rates.
“We’re now on the other side of the hiring frenzy of the pandemic years,” said Andrew Challenger, labor expert and Senior Vice President of the employment firm. “Companies are preparing for an economic slowdown, cutting workforce and slowing hiring.”
The push to correct pandemic excesses has been most evident in the tech sector, which slashed 41,829 jobs last month, the highest across industries.
Retailers, second after tech, cut 13,000 positions in January, compared with virtually no layoffs a year earlier. Financial firms, meanwhile, shed 10,603 jobs last month, up from 696 roles a year earlier.
With the Federal Reserve expected to continue on its rate-hiking path to stamp down inflation that is still on the higher side after several rounds of rate increases, analysts said more layoffs could be in store for US companies.
“For companies that ramped up headcount over the past few years, they will likely shrink their workforce as the economy is headed towards a rough patch,” OANDA analyst Edward Moya said.

When India pulled off a massive 168 run win in the third and final T20I in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, the Men in Blue shattered multiple records – both team and individual.
While Shubman Gill broke Virat Kohli‘s record for the highest score by an Indian batsman in T20Is, Team India registered their 50th home win in the shortest format of the game, becoming the first team to reach that landmark.
Incredibly, since September 2019 India have remained unbeaten in as many as 25 consecutive cricket series across all formats at home, which is also a world record.
TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at some very interesting stats and trivia after India’s massive 168 run win on Wednesday which also gave them a 2-1 series win:
# India’s magnificent triumph by 168 runs over New Zealand is their largest in terms of runs in Twenty20 Internationals, surpassing their win by 143 runs over Ireland at Dublin (Malahide) on June 29, 2018.
# India’s above victory is the biggest between the two Test-playing countries in terms of runs in Twenty20 Internationals, obliterating the 143-run victory by Pakistan against West Indies at National Stadium, Karachi on April 1, 2018.

# With their 2-1 series triumph, India have contested 25 straight unbeaten series across formats in India from September 2019 onwards – a world record for most unbeaten consecutive series in international cricket played by any team at home.
# The last time India lost a home series was a 2-3 defeat to Australia in ODIs in March 2019
# India’s triumph over New Zealand was also their 50th T20I win on Indian soil – the first team to accomplish the feat in T20Is at home. The top five teams being India (50 wins), New Zealand (42 wins), South Africa (37 wins), Australia (36 wins) and West Indies (36 wins)
# New Zealand registered their biggest defeat in terms of runs in T20Is, eclipsing the 103-run loss to Pakistan at Christchurch on December 30, 2010. These two defeats are their only ones of 100-plus runs in T20Is.

# India (234/4) have posted their highest total vs New Zealand in T20Is, surpassing the 208 for six at Hamilton on February 10, 2019. In all, the said score is their fifth highest in this format – their highest being 260 for five vs Sri Lanka at Indore on December 22, 2017.
# India’s total is the third highest by any team against New Zealand – the top two being Australia’s 245 for five at Auckland on February 16, 2018 and England’s 241 for three at Napier on November 8, 2019.
# New Zealand have posted their lowest total (68) vs India in T20Is, eclipsing the 99 for eight at Lucknow on January 29, 2023.
# Shubman Gill, at 23 years and 146 days, has become the youngest Indian batsman to notch up a hundred in T20Is, surpassing Suresh Raina’s record. Raina was 23 years 156 days old while scoring 101 off 60 balls in the ICC World Twenty20 fixture vs South Africa at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010.

# With his outstanding maiden century in Twenty20 Internationals, Shubman Gill has become the fifth Indian batter to register centuries in all three international formats – Tests, ODIs and T20Is. He has joined the distinguished company of Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli.
# Gill is the second youngest overall to complete the above set of scoring hundreds across formats. Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad had completed the set at the age of 22 years 127 days when he posted a hundred in a T20I against Bangladesh at Mirpur on March 30, 2014.
# Shubman, with his unbeaten knock of 126 off 63 balls, has established an Indian record for the highest individual innings in T20Is, bettering Virat Kohli’s 122 not out vs Afghanistan at Dubai on September 8, 2022. The said innings is the highest score by any batter against New Zealand, outstripping the 117 not out off 51 balls by Richard Levi for South Africa at Hamilton on February 19, 2012.
# In the first 32 days of January this year, Shubman has managed 769 runs at an average of 76.90, including four hundreds and a fifty, in twelve innings at a splendid strike rate of 134.67. No other batsman has amassed 500-plus runs this year across formats.

# Shubman Gill is the only batter to hit four hundreds across formats this year. His tally of 26 sixes is the highest.
# Hardik Pandya (4/16) has produced his best bowling performance in T20Is – his third four-wicket haul.
# Hardik Pandya (30 runs plus 4 wickets for 16 runs) is the only Indian cricketer to accomplish the double of posting 30-plus runs and claim four wickets in the same T20I thrice. His first two instances were against England – 33 not out and 4 for 38 at Bristol on July 8, 2018 and 51 and 4 for 33 at Southampton on July 7, 2022. No other Indian all-rounder has achieved the feat even once.
# Pandya has emulated Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan to accomplish the above all-round feat as captain. Shakib performed the feat against West Indies at Mirpur on December 20, 2018. Just two other all-rounders from non-Test playing teams have achieved the distinction – Oman’s Khawar Ali and Sweden’s Abhijit Venkatesh.
# Shubman Gill deservingly received his first Man of the Match award in T20Is.
# Suryakumar Yadav, for the first time, has taken three catches as a fielder in T20Is. He is the second Indian fielder to take three catches against New Zealand – the first being Arshdeep Singh at Mount Maunganui on November 20, 2022.
# Pandya (66 runs at an average of 33.00 and 5 wickets at 14.80) has received his second player of the series award – his first was against Australia in Australia in 2020-21.
# For the second time for India, all ten wickets in a Twenty20 International have been captured by speedsters – the first instance being against Pakistan at Dubai on August 28, 2022.
# Shubman Gill has been adjudged the Man of the Match for the first time in T20Is.
# Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya have shared a stand of 103 – India’s first century stand for the fourth wicket vs New Zealand – their fourth for this wicket-position in T20Is.
# Rahul Tripathi (44) has recorded his highest score in T20Is, obliterating the 35 against Sri Lanka at Rajkot on January 7, 2023.
# Lockie Ferguson has conceded 54 runs without taking a wicket – his worst performance in T20Is. Hamish Bennett (4-0-54-3 at Hamilton on January 29, 2020) and Ferguson share the dubious distinction of conceding most runs for New Zealand vs India in a T20I.
Stats Courtesy: Rajesh Kumar

Aryan Khan is gearing up to mark his debut behind the camera but the internet refuses to let him sail safe. Despite officially being cleared from the drugs storm, Aryan continues to face social media trials from users who hide behind anonymous garbs. When he recently stepped out, Aryan didn’t pose for the paparazzi and went about his work, as soon as his outing surfaced on the internet, trolls unleashed their true self.
ETimes condemns such social media negativity, especially for a budding filmmaker, who is still trying to find a footing. Instead of crowding him with hate, Aryan should be encouraged with support.

Take a look at some of the barbs that Aryan faced and our response to the same:
“I don’t think SRK being such a big star has got that attitude like his spoiled kid who is already into drugs and cases. Bravo”

To clarify, Aryan Khan’s name in the drugs case was officially cleared due to ‘lack of evidence’. We suggest you get your facts right before indulging in trolling. Besides, take some lessons in positivity… because your comment on someone who is trying to make a name for himself is nothing but demeaning.

“The boy has just snorted his fav stuff…. So intoxicated and can hardly manage to balance himself!!!”

Deeming Aryan Khan’s behaviour as ‘intoxicated’ and judging that he has ‘snorted stuff’ from just one video… simply reflects your trolling trait. Wasn’t it enough that he was put behind bars for no reason, that you have to troll him for the same horror from the past?

“Rukega Rukega jb movie aayegi iski tb”

Instead of criticising Aryan Khan for not posing for the paparazzi, how about you take a different approach and assume that the star kid was simply ‘keeping to himself’? Besides, he was out to support a fellow filmmaker and may have chosen to not hog the limelight. Instead of frivolous trolling, take up some positivity in life.