UN Aviation Summit Opens Amid Cyber Threats and Rising Tensions A major United Nations aviation summit opened on Tuesday in Montreal, under the cloud of cyberattacks and deepening global tensions. The triennial assembly, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), runs from 23 September to 3 October and brings together aviation leaders from around the world. As digital technology advances across the aviation industry, so do the threats. Recently, a cyberattack disrupted automated check-in systems at several major European airports, leading to flight delays and cancellations. The incident has added urgency to ongoing calls for stronger international cooperation on…
Author: Aishwarya Parikh
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LG Used Visa Waivers Before Crackdown on Korean Workers in US South Korea’s LG Energy Solution had been relying on visa waivers for years to send workers to the US. This approach started well before Donald Trump’s return as president and a sweeping immigration crackdown that recently led to the detention of hundreds of its workers. Internal documents show that LG used the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) programme to bypass lengthy and often unsuccessful US business visa procedures. The visa workaround reflects ongoing difficulties faced by South Korean firms. These companies, including LG, argue that securing short-term visas…
upGrad Expands University Partnerships in Asia and Middle East Amid Global Study Shifts Indian edtech firm upGrad is increasing its focus on university tie-ups across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. This move comes as visa barriers and high costs make studying in the US and UK less appealing for many students. Founded by film producer Ronnie Screwvala and supported by Singapore’s Temasek, upGrad partners with around 80 universities across 10 countries. These partnerships allow students to pursue online MBAs and executive education courses, often with the option to complete their degrees on overseas campuses. Responding to Changing Global Trends…
Cyber Attacks Cost German Economy €289 Billion as Foreign Threats Rise Cyber attacks have inflicted nearly €300 billion in damages on the German economy over the past year, with most of the threats now coming from foreign intelligence agencies rather than individual criminals. This sharp increase in state-linked cyber incidents reflects growing global geopolitical tensions. According to a new survey by industry group Bitkom, around half of the companies that identified attack sources traced them back to Russia or China. A further quarter linked the attacks to other European Union countries or the United States. Growing Threat from State-Sponsored Attacks…
Judge Rules Musk’s X Can Pursue Lawsuit Against Media Matters in Texas A US judge has ruled that Elon Musk’s social media company X can keep its lawsuit against advocacy group Media Matters in federal court in Texas. Chief US District Judge Reed O’Connor, based in Fort Worth, rejected arguments that the case should be transferred to California, saying he “does not find good cause” for a move. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accuses Washington, D.C.-based Media Matters of harming X’s reputation with a report alleging that advertisements from major brands appeared alongside extremist content on the platform. Media Matters…
EU Carbon Tax to Hit Indian Steel Exports, US Tariffs Have Limited Impact India’s steel exports are set to face pressure from the European Union’s carbon tax, while US tariffs are expected to have little impact, according to Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik. Speaking at the FT Live Energy Transition Summit India on Wednesday, he noted that two-thirds of India’s steel exports are bound for Europe, whereas exports to the US remain negligible. The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which taxes imports of high-carbon goods such as steel, aluminium, and cement, poses a major challenge. India has requested an exemption…
Sydney Data Centres Approved Without Water-Saving Requirements Authorities in Sydney have approved several new data centres without requiring clear plans to reduce water usage. This has raised concerns that the growing number of centres could strain the city’s limited water supply. The New South Wales (NSW) state government has approved all 10 data centre applications reviewed since expanding its planning powers in 2021. These approvals include projects by major companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and AirTrunk, owned by Blackstone. Together, these projects involve construction spending of A$6.6 billion (US$4.35 billion). However, they could use up to 9.6 gigalitres of clean…
Gemini Crypto IPO Raises $425 Million, Exceeds Market Expectations Cryptocurrency firm Gemini Space Station, led by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, raised $425 million through its initial public offering (IPO) on Thursday. The company priced its shares at $28 each, above the earlier marketed range of $24 to $26, reflecting strong investor interest. IPO Demand Surges Amid Crypto Market Boom Gemini sold approximately 15.2 million shares in the offering, valuing the New York-based company at $3.33 billion on a non-diluted basis. Earlier in the week, the company had revised its price range upwards from $17 to $19, highlighting the…
UNICEF Warns Childhood Obesity Now More Common Than Being Underweight A new UNICEF report has found that obesity among school-aged children and adolescents has overtaken underweight as a global health concern. The UN children’s agency says unhealthy food environments and aggressive marketing of junk food are driving the rise. The study analysed data from 2000 to 2022, compiled by researchers worldwide, and projected trends since 2010. The findings show that 1 in 10 children and adolescents—around 188 million—are now living with obesity based on World Health Organization standards. Alarming Shift in Global Health Trends Obesity rates in those aged 5…
“I belong to a good family. It’s just that life took an unexpected diversion after Covid…” So begins the story of Radha Vallabh Sharma in Vandana Vasudevan’s compelling OTP Please—a tale not just of one man, but of millions swept up in South Asia’s accelerating gig and convenience economy. As Vasudevan stitches together the voices of online buyers, sellers, and gig workers across the region, the daily act of ordering from an app is stripped of its frictionless sheen, revealing layers of dependence—and anxiety—that now define work and post-pandemic consumption. The world of “quick” deliveries is both liberating and fraught. Whether…
