What Caused the Air India Plane Crash?

Japan abruptly canceled a high-level meeting with US officials after Washington reportedly pushed Tokyo to significantly increase its defense budget. The Financial Times reports that the US wants Japan to boost military spending to counter China’s growing influence, but Japan—already facing economic pressures—appears reluctant to commit. The move signals potential friction in the long-standing US-Japan alliance.

A US judge has ruled to release Khalil, a Syrian-born green card holder who was detained for participating in pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University. The decision is being seen as a win for free speech and immigrant rights advocates, who argued his detention was unjust.

Apple bigwigs have reportedly been kicking the tires on acquiring Perplexity, an AI-powered search startup, according to Bloomberg. While the talks were exploratory and may not lead to a deal, it signals Apple’s growing interest in supercharging its AI capabilities—especially as it plays catch-up in the generative AI race.

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of Telegram, has announced plans to leave his fortune to more than 100 children he claims to have fathered—but there's a catch. The money won’t be accessible to them until they’re at least 30 years old. The tech mogul, known for his secrecy, dropped this bombshell without elaborating on how he’s supporting or acknowledging these kids in the present.

The U.S. and EU are close to finalizing a broad trade deal that tackles several sticky non-tariff issues—like Europe’s deforestation regulations and how American tech giants are treated overseas. While tariffs aren’t part of the agreement, it could ease tensions on key economic friction points between the two allies.