Digest for 21 October, 2025
Global Internet Disrupted as Amazon Web Services Suffers Major Outage
A massive outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's largest cloud provider, caused widespread internet disruption, affecting thousands of global companies and popular online services. The issue, originating from AWS's US-EAST-1 region, was linked to its Domain Name System (DNS). Platforms like Snapchat, Reddit, Roblox, and numerous business and financial services were impacted for hours. Amazon confirmed the problem was resolved Monday evening, but the event highlighted the global economy's critical dependence on a few cloud infrastructure giants.
Sanae Takaichi Elected as Japan's First Female Prime Minister
Japan's parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the nation's first female prime minister. A protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi secured the position after her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed a new coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. Her premiership ends a three-month political vacuum. Takaichi is expected to pursue a hawkish agenda, including a stronger military and constitutional revision, but faces challenges with a fragile coalition and pressing economic issues like rising prices.
European Council Approves New Strategic Agenda to Deepen Ties with India
The European Council has approved a 'New Strategic EU-India Agenda' aimed at significantly strengthening ties between the two powers. The conclusions endorsed efforts to finalize a 'balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial' Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year. The agenda focuses on deepening cooperation in security, defence, technology, and global issues. This move signals a strong political impetus from the 27-member bloc to elevate its partnership with India amid a complex geopolitical landscape.
Severe Smog Engulfs North India Following Diwali Celebrations
A thick layer of smog blanketed Delhi and other parts of North India a day after Diwali, plunging air quality into the 'very poor' and 'severe' categories. Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 350, with several areas crossing the 400 mark. In Haryana, cities like Bahadurgarh and Gurugram were among the worst-hit, while Punjab also recorded 'poor' air quality. The sharp deterioration, attributed to firecracker emissions and unfavourable weather, has triggered a major public health crisis across the region.
Government Touts Success in Counter-Terrorism and Naxal Operations
In a Diwali letter to citizens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the government's successes on the national security front, specifically mentioning 'Operation Sindoor' and progress in eradicating Naxalism. He stated that India had upheld righteousness and avenged injustice through the operation. The message also noted that Diwali lamps would be lit for the first time in many districts now free from Maoist terror, framing a narrative of significant gains in internal security and mainstreaming individuals from violence-affected areas.