World
India Upgrades Its Kabul Technical Mission To Full Embassy Status
India has officially upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy, signaling a renewed diplomatic presence in Afghanistan for the first time since 2021. The move follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, reflecting India’s aim to deepen engagement despite not formally recognizing the Taliban regime. The embassy will now oversee humanitarian, development, and trade initiatives.
Offbeat
Indian Techies Face Diwali Chaos Amid Amazon Cloud Outage
An Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage caused chaos for Indian tech workers celebrating Diwali, disrupting thousands of services reliant on AWS infrastructure. Many professionals shared funny and frustrated posts online, saying they were called into emergency work shifts. The outage led to temporary shutdowns in e-commerce, fintech, and OTT platforms across India, sparking conversations about overreliance on cloud systems.
World
Trump And Rudd In Public Clash Over US-Australia Rare Earth Minerals Deal
A public clash erupted between former US President Donald Trump and Australian political leaders over a high-profile deal concerning rare earth minerals that are vital for clean energy and technology sectors. The dispute involved trade terms, security concerns, and strategic cooperation with significant implications for regional geopolitics and supply chains in the Indo-Pacific. The disagreements underscore the complexities of international cooperation amid shifting political landscapes and economic priorities in critical resource management.
Finance
Walmart Halts Job Offers For H-1B Visa Candidates Amid US Crackdown
Walmart has reportedly paused hiring foreign workers requiring H-1B visas after new restrictions were introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration. The company cited “policy uncertainties” and compliance issues, impacting positions across IT, logistics, and data management. Critics see the move as part of Trump’s broader crackdown on foreign labor amid rising protectionist sentiment. Walmart said it remains committed to hiring talent legally while reviewing visa dependency policies across its global operations.
India
IndiGo Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Varanasi After Fuel Leak
An IndiGo Airlines flight en route from Kolkata to Srinagar made an emergency landing at Varanasi after pilots detected a midair fuel leak. The Airbus A320 aircraft, carrying 168 passengers, landed safely with fire tenders and emergency teams on standby. Preliminary reports suggest a technical fault rather than sabotage. IndiGo has grounded similar aircraft for inspection while regulators initiated an independent inquiry. No injuries were reported.
Finance
Investment Scam Wave Rocks Indian Cities, Costing Public Rs 1500 Crore
Major investment scams have hit top tech cities including Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad, draining over Rs 1500 crore from unsuspecting citizens. Cybercriminals lured victims using fake websites and persuasive telecallers, exposing serious gaps in digital literacy and online security. Authorities ramped up cyber investigations, urged people to stay vigilant, and started campaigns on fraud awareness. Experts say coordinated action by financial institutions, law enforcement, and tech companies is critical to stopping such scams from escalating further.
World
Ex-US Executive Charged With Selling Trade Secrets to Russia for $1.3 Million
US authorities charged former corporate executive Peter Williams with selling proprietary American defense technology data to Russian companies for $1.3 million. The Justice Department said Williams smuggled encrypted blueprints of strategic components used in radar systems and communication satellites. His acts allegedly endangered national security. Arrested in New Jersey, Williams faces multiple espionage and fraud charges under federal law.
World
Indian-Origin Engineer Faces 15-Year Jail Term in US for Moonlighting
An Indian-origin engineer in California faces up to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of secretly working for another technology firm while employed at a major defense contractor. Prosecutors said the dual employment violated federal security protocols tied to US defense projects. Authorities alleged he used classified access for private gain, though his counsel plans to appeal. The trial highlights rising corporate vigilance on moonlighting cases in critical sectors.
Lifestyle
Fresher’s ₹3.5 Lakh TCS Offer Sparks Debate On India’s Tough IT Job Market
A fresh graduate landing a ₹3.5 lakh per annum TCS “Ninja” offer has gone viral, with netizens questioning how such rare packages fit within India’s struggling IT hiring ecosystem. Experts say these exceptions highlight both extreme competition and widening wage disparity between entry-level coders and elite campus recruits, revealing an uneven tech employment recovery.
Science & Tech
iPhone 18 Pro Leak Hints Major Camera Upgrade And Hidden Face ID Display
Leaked details of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro suggest the company’s biggest camera overhaul in years, featuring a new sensor, upgraded lens array, and under-display Face ID. Analysts say Apple plans a 2026 launch to offer an edge-to-edge design with higher brightness, thinner bezels, and its new A20 Bionic chip built on 2 nm process technology.