A global Microsoft service outage has disrupted email support services at IndiGo and Akasa Air, prompting both airlines to issue passenger advisories. IndiGo warned that it might be unable to receive or respond to passenger emails while the disruption continues. The airline said its other customer support channels remain operational and advised passengers needing urgent assistance to contact its AI-powered assistant, 6E Skai, through its official website or mobile application. Akasa Air also alerted passengers about the disruption and provided an alternative helpline number for assistance. Both airlines cautioned customers about possible email communication difficulties and apologised for the inconvenience caused by the service interruption. (PC: X)

Artificial intelligence assistants are beginning to make purchases on behalf of credit-card holders, opening a new battle over control of consumer payments. Meta’s Muse, Instinct and other personal AI bots have recently gained the ability to shop for users, potentially reducing the need for consumers to initiate purchases or click “buy” at checkout. These developments are generating excitement about agentic commerce and its potential to reshape the payments industry. Stripe is positioning itself as a major player in this emerging market, while JPMorgan Chase remains sceptical. The shift raises questions about how banks, payment companies and technology firms will adapt as AI agents increasingly participate in everyday transactions. (PC: X)

Microsoft said its efforts to resolve a widespread outage affecting Outlook and other services were not progressing as expected on Friday, November 13. The disruption, which began on Thursday, affected email access, Microsoft Teams, Copilot and Microsoft 365 services. Nearly 1,30,000 users reported Outlook problems on Downdetector shortly after 1 pm local time, although reports later declined. Many users were unable to send or receive emails or load their inboxes, while thousands reported issues with other applications. Microsoft said it was investigating the disruptions and that part of its infrastructure was experiencing elevated load, likely contributing to connectivity errors. Thousands of users in India also faced disruptions. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Microsoft overtook Nvidia to become the world's second-most valuable company on Tuesday after a sharp fall in the chipmaker's shares amid growing concerns over the artificial intelligence industry. Nvidia's stock dropped more than 6% to around $167.11, while Microsoft's shares fell just 0.4% to $543.25. The shift in market rankings came as investors assessed uncertainty surrounding the sustainability of the AI boom and reports of an investigation into whether Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was targeted in a foreign intelligence effort. Microsoft has benefited from investor confidence in its cloud computing and AI businesses, helping it maintain a stronger market position. (PC: India Today)

US technology giant Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into reports that its CEO, Jensen Huang, was targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operation. The move follows a New York Times report alleging that Huang had a close relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at a Singapore-based data centre company suspected of sharing information with China. Jensen Huang admitted being unfaithful to his wife, saying, “There is no excuse for what I did.” Nvidia said it had no reason to believe its trade secrets or national security had been compromised but would examine all available information. (PC: BBC)

Google has expanded its voluntary buyout programme to employees in five countries as it seeks to control costs while increasing investments in artificial intelligence. The latest offers cover teams in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland, giving eligible employees the option to leave with severance packages. A company spokesperson confirmed the expansion, saying similar programmes were introduced in selected teams in 2025 before being extended to more countries in June. Google has not disclosed how many employees have accepted the offers. The programme does not appear to include its DeepMind AI research division or Google Cloud, two businesses where the company is continuing to hire. (PC: Reuters)

A 26-year-old man, Ajay Rathore, allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to research home-brewed liquor before setting up an illicit liquor operation in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district, police said. Investigators allege he procured chemicals from a solvent wholesaler in Indore and sold the concoction in discarded liquor bottles mixed with genuine stock. Authorities are examining whether liquor supplied by the alleged racket was connected to 13 suspected hooch deaths reported in Chandana and Binjana villages since September 27. Forensic test results are awaited to determine contamination and establish any link to the deaths. The district administration had initially dismissed reports connecting the deaths to spurious liquor as misleading. (PC: The Indian Express)

Walmart-backed Flipkart is planning to launch a platform called ‘Earth’ to tap growing demand for premium, sustainable products, according to an Economic Times report. The company has begun onboarding brands offering healthier, toxin-free and environmentally sustainable products across multiple categories. These include beauty and personal care, snacks and beverages, home decor, fashion, appliances and other segments. The initiative could expand Flipkart’s presence in the premium consumer market by bringing sustainability-focused products to online shoppers. People familiar with the development told the publication about the plans. Further details, including the platform’s launch date, product range and pricing strategy, were not specified in the available report excerpt. (PC: X)

Governments and technology companies worldwide are rushing to address serious security flaws discovered in PHP, a programming language used to power millions of websites. Researchers at cybersecurity firms Wiz and Calif used advanced artificial intelligence tools to identify vulnerabilities that had remained undetected for years. The flaws could allow attackers to take control of affected web servers and steal sensitive data without authentication. Several organisations, including Wikimedia, the BBC and government agencies, temporarily took websites offline as a precaution. PHP developers released emergency patches, while security agencies urged operators to update immediately or suspend vulnerable services. (PC: BBC)

Government agencies across Europe temporarily shut down websites on Wednesday after 2 critical security flaws were discovered in PHP, a programming language widely used to run websites and applications. The US National Security Agency urged organisations to install security updates immediately or take vulnerable systems offline. The PHP Foundation said the flaws could allow attackers to execute malicious code on affected servers without authentication, potentially exposing files and databases. Researchers from security firm Calif and OpenAI independently identified the vulnerabilities, while Google-owned Wiz found additional ways to exploit them. Developers have released patches, and authorities are urging urgent action. (PC: HT)