* Education Department will cut nearly half its staff * Agencies cut workers using lump-sum payments, early retirement * Thursday is deadline to submit plans for large-scale layoffs * Workers would receive buyout payment of up to $25,000 * Buyout program less vulnerable to legal challenge (Adds details on cuts, paragraphs 1-4, 10) By Alexandra Alper, Tim Reid, Marisa Taylor...

* Figures were distorted by timing of Chinese New Year * EU sales spurred by emissions standards * EU tariffs hit sales at MG, other China-made brands By Alessandro Parodi March 12 (Reuters) - China in February again led purchases of electric vehicles, which increased worldwide versus a year ago, even as European Union tariffs on China-made EVs reduced sales...

(Reuters) - Bessemer Venture Partners, an early backer of Swiggy, has raised $350 million for an India-focused fund to invest in AI-enabled businesses, fintechs and direct-to-consumer brands among others, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. The United States-based venture capital firm said it will allocate this fund from mid-2025 to continue making fresh bets in young Indian businesses....

(Reuters) - China in February again led purchases of electric vehicles, which increased worldwide versus a year ago, even as European Union tariffs on China-made EVs reduced sales of some brands, research firm Rho Motion said on Wednesday. Overall sales, including battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, rose by 49% in February year-on-year to 1.2 million, but the researchers said...