July 27, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: Technology

SpaceX’s Starlink Suffers Major Global Outage After Internal Software Failure

SpaceX’s satellite internet service Starlink experienced one of its largest international disruptions on Thursday, when an internal software failure knocked tens of thousands of users offline. The outage began around 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) and affected users primarily in the U.S. and Europe, with crowdsourced reports peaking at approximately 61,000 incidents. Starlink, which serves over 6 million subscribers across nearly 140 countries, acknowledged the disruption on its X account and assured customers that the team “is actively implementing a solution.” After about 2.5 hours, service largely resumed, according to Michael Nicolls, Starlink’s Vice President of Engineering, who apologized and pledged to identify the root cause. Elon Musk also issued an apology on X, stating: “Sorry for the outage. SpaceX will remedy root cause to ensure it doesn’t happen again.” Industry experts speculated whether the failure stemmed from a flawed software update, a rare glitch, or even a cyberattack. Gregory Falco of Cornell University likened the incident to last year’s global outage caused by a compromised cybersecurity update, while Doug Madory of Kentik noted that a disruption of this scale is unprecedented for a service of Starlink’s resilience. As Starlink continues its rapid expansion—launching over 8,000 satellites since 2020 and partnering with T-Mobile to provide direct-to-cell emergency text messaging—SpaceX has been upgrading its network to meet growing demands for higher speeds and bandwidth. The recent outage underscores the challenges of operating a vast low-Earth-orbit constellation that serves not only remote consumers but also military and industrial clients worldwide.

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Editor02 mins

India Successfully Tests Indigenous UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM-V3)

In a major step toward enhancing India’s indigenous defence capabilities, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday successfully conducted flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sharing the news on X, congratulated DRDO and its industry partners, including DcPPs, MSMEs, and start-ups. “This success proves that the Indian industry is now ready to absorb and produce critical defence technologies,” he stated. While technical details of ULPGM-V3 remain classified, the missile is believed to build upon the features of its predecessor, ULPGM-V2, which was developed by DRDO’s Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL). V2 had multiple warhead configurations and was part of DRDO’s evolving focus on precision-guided, UAV-compatible munitions. Key enhancements in the V3 variant likely include imaging infrared (IIR) seekers and dual-thrust propulsion systems—features previewed at Aero India 2025. The missile is designed to be lightweight, highly precise, and compatible with various aerial platforms, significantly boosting India’s tactical and strategic strike capabilities. The Kurnool-based NOAR has become a hub for cutting-edge defence trials, including recent successful demonstrations of directed energy weapons and anti-drone systems. This successful test underscores India’s growing strength in unmanned precision warfare and its ongoing pursuit of self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.

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Editor02 mins

AR Rahman’s AI-Powered Musical Universe ‘Secret Mountain’ Gains Global Attention After Meeting with Sam Altman

As artificial intelligence rapidly becomes an inescapable part of modern life, opinions remain divided—some see it as a tool of great convenience, while others fear it signals a quiet technological takeover. Amid this debate, legendary Indian composer AR Rahman has introduced a groundbreaking AI-driven initiative titled Secret Mountain. The project aims to blend technology with creativity to forge a new path in musical storytelling. Recently, Rahman met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss the future of Secret Mountain and ways to empower Indian creators through AI. Sharing a photo from their meeting, Rahman wrote, “It was a pleasure to meet @sama at his office … we discussed ‘Secret Mountain’, our virtual global band, and to empower and uplift Indian minds to use AI tools to address generational challenges and lead the way forward.” Secret Mountain was officially announced by Rahman on February 14, 2024, through a teaser video titled Introducing the Secret Mountain. The project centers around Luna, a young woman who escapes the chaos of modern life and finds herself in a magical realm filled with musical beings from various cultures. Each character brings a distinct sound, celebrating diversity and artistic expression through AI-powered collaboration. Despite embracing AI, Rahman emphasizes that it serves as an enhancement—not a replacement—for human creativity. As stated on his official website, “AI can be a starting point, but the human element, the emotional depth and creativity, remains irreplaceable.” His vision positions Secret Mountain as a unique global experiment where culture, technology, and imagination meet in harmony.

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Editor03 mins

ऑनलाइन क्लास के नाम पर बड़ा साइबर फ्रॉड: पिता के नाम पर ले लिया लोन, EMI बाउंस होने पर हुआ खुलासा

कोरोना महामारी के बाद ऑनलाइन क्लासेस का चलन तेजी से बढ़ा, लेकिन अब साइबर ठग इसी ट्रेंड का फायदा उठाकर ठगी की घटनाओं को अंजाम दे रहे हैं। भोपाल में ऐसा ही एक मामला सामने आया है, जहां ऑनलाइन लर्निंग प्लेटफॉर्म के बहाने एक व्यक्ति से उसकी पहचान और ओटीपी लेकर उसके नाम पर ₹17,000 का लोन निकाल लिया गया। ऐसे हुआ फ्रॉड भोपाल के रटीबड़ क्षेत्र निवासी किशोर कुमार ने साइबर क्राइम ब्रांच को शिकायत दी कि एक माह पूर्व कुछ लोगों ने उन्हें फोन कर ऑनलाइन क्लासेस का सालाना पैकेज देने की बात कही। उन्होंने ₹150 रजिस्ट्रेशन फीस, आधार कार्ड, पैन कार्ड और मोबाइल पर आया ओटीपी मांगा। किशोर कुमार ने विश्वास करते हुए ये सभी जानकारियां दे दीं। इसके बाद उनसे ₹2,500 की पहली किस्त भी ली गई और कुछ दिनों बाद उनके बच्चे की ऑनलाइन क्लास शुरू हो गई, जिससे उन्हें कोई शक नहीं हुआ। एक महीने बाद हुआ खुलासा करीब एक महीने बाद किशोर को एक प्राइवेट फाइनेंस कंपनी से कॉल आया कि उनके नाम पर ₹17,000 का लोन चालू है और पहली EMI बाउंस हो चुकी है। जब उन्होंने ऑनलाइन क्लास वालों से बात की तो उन्हें बताया गया कि पूरी फीस फाइनेंस कंपनी से मिल गई है और किश्तें किशोर कुमार को भरनी होंगी। किशोर को तब जाकर समझ आया कि उनके नाम पर लोन ले लिया गया है। उन्होंने जब लोन रद्द करने की मांग की तो ठगों ने अगली सुबह 11 बजे तक कार्रवाई का आश्वासन दिया। लेकिन अगले दिन से उनके फोन बंद हैं और संपर्क नहीं हो पा रहा। पुलिस ने दर्ज किया केस किशोर कुमार की शिकायत पर साइबर क्राइम ब्रांच ने धोखाधड़ी की धाराओं में केस दर्ज कर जांच शुरू कर दी है। पुलिस ने आम लोगों से अपील की है कि वे किसी भी अज्ञात कॉल या ऑनलाइन ऑफर पर अपनी निजी जानकारी, दस्तावेज और ओटीपी साझा न करें। ऐसी लापरवाही भारी नुकसान में बदल सकती है।

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Editor01 mins

India’s Mobile Phone Revolution: From Import Dependency to Global Export Powerhouse

India has undergone a remarkable transformation in its mobile phone sector, emerging as the world’s third-largest exporter of mobile phones. In 2024 alone, the country exported mobile phones worth USD 20.5 billion—a dramatic leap from just USD 0.2 billion in 2017-18. This phenomenal growth is the focus of a new study by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), led by Professor C. Veeramani, which attributes this shift to strategic policy interventions and deeper integration into global value chains. The pivotal moment came with the launch of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in 2020, designed to boost large-scale electronics manufacturing and exports. The study describes India’s journey as mirroring that of other successful Asian economies—achieving scale first, followed by increasing value addition over time. With mobile phone manufacturing serving as a blueprint, experts believe India is now well-positioned to replicate this model across the broader electronics sector. From Imports to Export Dominance Back in 2014-15, India relied heavily on imports to satisfy domestic mobile phone demand. However, by 2024-25, exports surged to USD 24.1 billion—marking a staggering 11,950% increase in less than a decade. This shift signifies a structural change in India’s manufacturing landscape, where export volume has surpassed domestic consumption—an uncommon feat among developing economies. The country has maintained a strong positive net export trend in mobile phones since 2018-19. Rising Domestic Value Addition One of the most encouraging findings of the CDS study is the steady rise in Domestic Value Addition (DVA), both direct and indirect. Total DVA accounted for 23% of the sector’s production value in 2022-23, exceeding USD 10 billion. Direct value addition grew by 283%, while indirect value addition—including inputs from local suppliers and service providers—soared by 604%. Job Creation and Better Wages The boom in mobile phone manufacturing has also had a transformative effect on India’s labour market. According to Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) data, the sector now employs over 17 lakh people as of 2022-23. Notably, jobs linked directly to exports have grown more than 33 times during this period. Export-oriented roles are also seeing significant wage increases, indicating that the benefits of the sector’s growth are reaching workers through improved income and expanded employment opportunities. With these successes, India’s mobile phone sector stands as a shining example of how thoughtful policy, global integration, and domestic capability-building can combine to create a globally competitive manufacturing hub.

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Editor04 mins

NASA Launches TRACERS Mission to Study Magnetic Explosions in Space

In a significant step toward understanding space weather, NASA launched a new mission on Wednesday to study magnetic reconnection—a phenomenon where the sun’s magnetic field interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield, releasing bursts of energy. The mission is titled TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites). Launched at 11:13 a.m. local time (1813 GMT) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the TRACERS mission involves two identical satellites, each about the size of a washing machine. The launch also carried several other satellites from private partners. Mission Objective: Understanding Space Weather The primary aim of TRACERS is to investigate how solar wind—a constant stream of electrically charged particles from the sun—interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective magnetic field that shields the planet from harmful solar radiation. “As the solar wind collides with Earth’s magnetic field, this interaction builds up energy that can cause the magnetic field lines to snap and explosively fling away nearby particles at high speeds — this is magnetic reconnection,” explained John Dorelli, TRACERS mission science lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Why It Matters Magnetic reconnection events can disrupt satellite operations, navigation systems, and even power grids on Earth. By using two synchronized spacecraft, TRACERS will capture a three-dimensional picture of how these high-energy interactions evolve over time. “The TRACERS mission demonstrates how you can use multi-spacecraft technology to get a picture of how things are moving and evolving,” said David Miles, principal investigator for the mission at the University of Iowa. Other Payloads on Board Alongside TRACERS, the SpaceX launch also included multiple satellites from commercial entities: These payloads span various objectives, from communications to space testing platforms. With TRACERS now in orbit, NASA is poised to make breakthrough observations that could deepen our understanding of how space weather affects not just satellites and astronauts, but also critical infrastructure here on Earth.

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Editor03 mins

Indian Army Inducts First Batch of Apache Attack Helicopters, Deployment at Jodhpur Soon

In a major boost to its offensive air capabilities, the Indian Army has received the first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, which will soon be deployed at a key base in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The delivery marks a significant milestone for Army Aviation and enhances India’s preparedness in the region. Taking to social media, the Indian Army stated: “Indian Army inducts #Apache. Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly.” The arrival comes after a 15-month delay, with the push for expedited delivery being reinforced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in recent discussions with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, according to The Indian Express. India had signed a $600 million deal in 2020 with the US to acquire six additional Apaches for the Indian Army, following a 2015 agreement to supply 22 Apaches to the Indian Air Force. Apache AH-64E: A Battlefield Game-Changer Manufactured by Boeing, the AH-64E Apache is one of the most advanced attack helicopters globally, capable of high-precision strikes in complex combat environments. Key features include: The Apache is already in service with several top militaries, including the US, UK, Israel, and Egypt. With the latest induction, the Indian Army significantly strengthens its tactical air support and anti-armour capabilities, particularly along critical frontiers.

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Editor02 mins

“Zero-Day” Hack on Microsoft SharePoint Hits Nearly 100 Organizations, Warn Cybersecurity Firms

A newly discovered cyber espionage campaign exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability in self-hosted Microsoft SharePoint servers has compromised around 100 organizations as of last weekend, according to Eye Security and the Shadowserver Foundation. The attacks leverage a “zero-day” flaw—one not previously disclosed—that allows adversaries to infiltrate exposed SharePoint instances, install backdoors, and maintain long-term access. SharePoint Online, which runs on Microsoft’s cloud servers, remains unaffected. Vaisha Bernard, chief hacker at Netherlands-based Eye Security, revealed that a targeted breach of one of her firm’s clients on Friday prompted a comprehensive internet scan with Shadowserver. That scan identified nearly 100 vulnerable servers before details of the exploit became public. Shadowserver confirmed most victims are located in the United States and Germany and include government bodies. Rafe Pilling, director of Threat Intelligence at British cybersecurity firm Sophos, noted that although initial forensic indicators point to a single threat actor, “it’s possible this will quickly change” as other groups may adopt the same technique. Microsoft has issued security updates to patch the vulnerability and urged all customers running on-premises SharePoint servers to install them immediately. However, cybersecurity experts warn that patching alone is not enough; organizations should assume they have been breached, conduct thorough forensic investigations, and remove any implanted backdoors. Google’s security team has attributed at least some of the attack activity to a “China-nexus threat actor,” although no government or group has officially claimed responsibility. The FBI and Britain’s National Cyber Security Center have confirmed awareness of the campaign and are collaborating with private and public sector partners.

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Editor03 mins

Airtel Partners with Perplexity to Offer Free AI Assistant Subscription Worth ₹17,000 to All Users

In a major push towards democratizing AI access, telecom giant Bharti Airtel has partnered with US-based artificial intelligence startup Perplexity to offer its premium Perplexity Pro subscription free of cost for up to a year to all Airtel users across India. The annual subscription, normally priced around ₹17,000, is now being provided complimentary to Airtel’s extensive consumer base, which includes over 360 million users across mobile, Wi-Fi, and DTH services. What Is Perplexity? Perplexity is a cutting-edge AI-powered assistant, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, designed to help users with search, planning, content creation, and research. It provides instant answers, intelligent reasoning, and a seamless interface for both everyday and professional use. Key Benefits of the Offer While Perplexity offers a free plan with limited functionality, the Pro version provides a far more robust experience tailored for professionals and power users. Here’s a quick comparison: Perplexity Free Plan: Perplexity Pro (Included in Airtel Offer): How Airtel Users Can Claim the Offer To activate the free Perplexity Pro subscription, Airtel users simply need to: This partnership marks a significant step in making premium AI tools accessible to a broader audience in India. By integrating Perplexity into its ecosystem, Airtel is not only enhancing digital productivity but also taking a forward leap in AI adoption at scale.

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Editor03 mins

Indian Scientists Unravel Cause Behind Rare Ladakh Aurora: Record Solar Storm With Interacting CMEs

In a groundbreaking revelation, scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have decoded the extraordinary cosmic chain of events that led to a rare aurora borealis display over Ladakh in May 2024 — a phenomenon typically confined to the polar regions. This dazzling show in the remote Himalayan skies was triggered by a record-breaking solar storm, powered by six massive, rapidly interacting Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) — immense bursts of magnetized plasma ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. “This was a unique sequence of six interacting CMEs, associated with solar flares and filament eruptions, all originating from a hyperactive region on the Sun,” said Dr. Wageesh Mishra, faculty at IIA. Using data from NASA and ESA space observatories, researchers at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Ladakh, built advanced models to trace the thermal evolution and dynamics of the solar storms as they hurtled through space. Published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, the study marks a scientific first: it offers a continuous thermal profile of multiple interacting CMEs. According to lead author and PhD researcher Soumyaranjan Khuntia, the solar plasma clouds initially released heat, but as they journeyed through interplanetary space, they began to absorb and retain heat, stabilizing at a constant temperature—a surprising discovery that challenges existing assumptions about solar ejections. Back on Earth, NASA’s Wind spacecraft detected an unusual structure within the final CME cloud — “double flux ropes”, or twisted magnetic braids. Their interaction with Earth’s magnetic field caused the dramatic and rare auroras seen across Ladakh’s skies. “This work lays the foundation for a new frontier in space weather forecasting,” noted Anjali Agarwal, a co-author of the study. With India’s Aditya-L1 solar mission now operational and observing the Sun from a vantage point near Lagrange Point 1, the IIA team aims to enhance predictive models for future solar storms and their impact on Earth’s satellites, power grids, and communications. “India is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse in heliophysics research,” said Dr. Mishra. “Our growing capabilities will help protect modern infrastructure from solar hazards in the years to come.” The 2024 Ladakh aurora remains a historic and awe-inspiring event — not just for its beauty, but for the cutting-edge science it has inspired.

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Editor04 mins
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