News Headlines - 24 April 2014

▽Obama says US will defend Japan in island dispute with China | theguardian.com

The US is duty-bound to come to Japan’s aid in the event of a conflict with China over a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea, Barack Obama declared at the start of a tour of Asia aimed at reassuring Washington’s allies in the face of threats to stability from North Korea and an increasingly assertive China.

▽Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin warns of 'consequences' after Slavyansk skirmish | The Guardian

Thousands of Russian troops launched exercises along the Ukrainian border on Thursday and President Vladimir Putin threatened "consequences" after the Kiev government attempted to wrest back control from pro-Moscow separatists in the east of the country.

▽GE’s Savoir Faire Gives Immelt Hope to Win French ‘Jewel’ Alstom - Bloomberg

GE is in talks to buy Alstom SA (ALO), the builder of steam turbines for nuclear plants, people with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be the U.S. company’s biggest acquisition. The deal would exclude Alstom’s transport unit, the builder of the iconic Train a Grande Vitesse, or super-fast trains, to make it more palatable politically, one of the people said.

▽Microsoft beats Wall Street on new CEO debut | Reuters

Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) new chief executive got off to a winning start with Wall Street on Thursday as the world's largest software company eased past analysts' profit estimates despite the pressure of falling computer sales.

▽BBC News - Gherkin skyscraper in receivership after defaults

London's Gherkin skyscraper has been placed into receivership by its creditors after one of its owners was placed in insolvency. Germany's IVG Immobilien, which co-owns the 40-storey Gherkin with private equity firm Evans Randall, filed for insolvency last year.