The tech industry witnessed one of the worst months for layoffs in February 2025, with job cuts soaring to alarming levels. According to Layoffs.fyi, 46 tech companies laid off 15,994 employees, marking a staggering 184% increase from January’s 5,641 layoffs across 25 companies. The layoffs were primarily driven by corporate restructuring, AI-driven job automation, and economic uncertainty. Meta, HP, Workday, Salesforce, and Autodesk were among the major companies that announced signifi

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been accused of sending over $2 billion in aid to Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, raising concerns over how U.S. foreign aid is allocated. The claims were presented during a House Committee hearing on USAID’s financial practices, bringing renewed scrutiny to the agency’s funding policies.   Additionally, reports suggest that USAID provided financial assistance to Falah-e-In

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced major updates to the RuPay Debit Select Card, offering enhanced lifestyle benefits in fitness, travel, wellness, and entertainment. These new features will be effective from April 1, 2025, providing cardholders with complimentary airport lounge access, gym memberships, spa sessions, OTT subscriptions, and accident insurance coverage.RuPay Debit Select was introduced as a premium debit card offering exclusive privileges. In a circ

If you've switched jobs multiple times, there's a chance you may have more than one Universal Account Number (UAN) from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Managing multiple UANs can be confusing and may result in losing track of your provident fund savings. To avoid this, it's important to consolidate all your previous UANs into a single active account.   Why Do Employees End Up with Multiple UANs? There are

Amazon has taken a significant leap into artificial intelligence with the launch of Alexa Plus, an advanced version of its popular voice assistant. Powered by generative AI, Alexa Plus is designed to be more conversational, personalized, and intelligent, offering users an upgraded experience with improved automation, learning capabilities, and expanded features.   Announced on Wednesday, Alexa+ integrates large language models (LLMs) and agentic capabilities, allowing it

The Trump administration has taken a dramatic step in reshaping U.S. foreign aid by terminating 2,000 employees from the U.S. Agency for International Development while placing thousands more on administrative leave around the globe. Following a ruling by a federal judge, the decision affects both domestic and international USAID staff, leaving only those designated as essential for mission-critical functions, leadership, or specific programs in active service. As of 11:59 p.m. EST on

  An American Airlines flight en route from New York City to New Delhi experienced an unexpected diversion on Sunday afternoon when it landed at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport following a security alert. The incident, which has since been labeled as a “non-credible” concern by the airline, underscores the rigorous protocols that govern air travel safety in today’s dynamic security environment. T

Amazon has officially surpassed Walmart in quarterly revenue for the first time, marking a historic shift in the retail landscape. For over a decade, Walmart has consistently led the industry in revenue generation, but Amazon’s rapid expansion in eCommerce, cloud computing, and advertising has propelled it to the top. During the fourth quarter, Amazon reported a staggering $187.8 billion in revenue, surpassing Walmart’s $180.5 billion. While Wal

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami declared on Sunday that his party would lead a grand alliance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to challenge the ruling DMK and ensure electoral victory. Speaking at a public meeting in Vellore district, he dismissed DMK’s claims of ideological unity and emphasized that alliances are formed strategically to consolidate votes.   Despite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam ruling out an alliance, Palaniswami remained confi

On Monday morning, a bomb threat letter was discovered aboard a Jeddah-Ahmedabad international flight at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel International Airport. The threat letter, which was found by cleaning staff under a seat after all passengers had disembarked, caused immediate alarm. Local police, along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and other security agencies, launched an investig

A Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed today near Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, while on a routine training mission. The two pilots onboard the multirole jet were able to eject safely and are reported to be unharmed. The crash is under investigation, with a court of inquiry ordered to determine the cause of the incident. Mirage 2000 aircraft have been in service with the IAF for several decades and are renowned for their reliability and versatility in various combat

Vijay Mallya, the fugitive liquor baron, has approached the Karnataka High Court, claiming that banks have recovered the "principal debt amount multiple times over" in the Kingfisher Airlines loan default case. In his petition, Mallya has sought directions from the banks to provide a statement of the recovered amount.Justice R Devdas issued notices to 10 banks, including State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank (PNB), a recovery official, and an asset reconstruction compan

A total of 205 Indian nationals who had illegally entered the United States were deported aboard a US military C-17 aircraft, which took off from Texas. Each deportee’s nationality was verified, signaling New Delhi’s involvement in the process. This is likely the first of many such deportations as part of a broader effort to address illegal immigration. The aircraft, typically equipped for larger transports, can accommodate up to 205 passengers, though it only has one toilet unles

In response to the government's request, IndiGo has decided to reduce airfares for flights to Prayagraj by 30-50%, a move aimed at making travel more affordable during the ongoing Kumbh Mela. This decision follows consultations between airlines and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which urged the carriers to adjust their pricing and increase their flight capacities to accommodate the massive influx of devotees. The Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13, is expected to attract aro

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced that the application forms for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025 will be released today, January 22. Candidates who wish to appear for the prestigious Civil Services Examination can visit the official UPSC website to access the detailed notification and fill out the application form. The last date to submit applications is February 11, 2025. The Civil Services Prelims will take place on May 25, 2025, alongside

Delhi is facing a pollution crisis as dense fog and an air quality index (AQI) dangerously close to the ‘severe’ category prompt the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to reintroduce stricter pollution measures under GRAP-3 and GRAP-4. These measures were only revoked recently, with the AQI at 396 at 6 pm and expected to exceed the 400 mark. In response to the deteriorating air quality and in compliance with Supreme Court orders, the CAQM has immediately enforc

Dense fog enveloped parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, significantly reducing visibility and resulting in disruptions to travel. More than 150 flights were delayed, with an average delay of 41 minutes, as reported by aviation website FlightRadar24. Additionally, around 26 trains were delayed or cancelled due to the thick fog. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that departures were impacted but assured travelers that CAT III-compliant fligh

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has raised serious concerns about the ongoing delays in the delivery of the Tejas fighter aircraft, calling for an urgent boost in private sector partnerships for defence product development. Speaking at the 21st Subroto Mukherjee Seminar, Singh emphasized that R&D in defence becomes irrelevant if it doesn't meet its timelines, pointing out how the Tejas project, conceived in 1984, still faces delays. Despite its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2016,

India strongly condemned the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan civilians, which resulted in at least 51 deaths, including women and children, in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24. In a statement on Monday, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the attack, describing it as part of Pakistan's longstanding practice of blaming its neighbors for its internal problems. The airstrikes targeted areas in Paktika, particularly affecting the village of Laman,

The polar vortex, a powerful atmospheric phenomenon, is expected to cause a dramatic shift in weather patterns across the eastern United States. As the vortex weakens and shifts southward, frigid Arctic air will move down into the country, bringing temperatures that could plunge as much as 30 degrees below normal. This extreme cold event will be one of the harshest in recent years, especially compared to the record warmth seen during last year's winter. The cold air will first a