13/10/2025

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US-India ties warm up

Qantas customer data shared online SYDNEY: Australian airline Qantas said yesterday that data from 5.7 million customers stolen in a major cyberattack this year had been shared online, part of a leak reportedly involving dozens of firms. Qantas said in July that hackers had targeted one of its customer contact centres, breaching a computer system used by a third party. They secured access to sensitive information such as customer names, email addresses, phone numbers and birthdays, the blue chip Australian company said. Credit card details and passport numbers were not kept in the system, Qantas stressed at the time. AFP understands the third-party involved is software firm Salesforce, which said last week that it was “aware of recent extortion attempts by threat actors”. The hackers have also obtained stolen data from dozens of other companies including Disney, Google, IKEA, Toyota, McDonalds, Air France and KLM. “Qantas is one of a number of companies that has had data released by cyber criminals following the airline’s cyber incident in early July, where customer data was stolen via a third party platform,” the company said in a statement. “With the help of cyber security experts, we are investigating what data was part of the release.” It also said it had obtained a legal injunction with the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where the firm is headquartered, “to prevent the stolen data being accessed, viewed, released, used, transmitted or published by anyone, including third parties”. Cybersecurity analysts have linked the hack to individuals linked to an alliance of cybercriminals called Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters. Research group Unit 42 said in a note the group had “asserted responsibility for laying siege to customer Salesforce tenants as part of a coordinated effort to steal data and hold it for ransom”. The hackers had reportedly set an Oct 10 deadline for ransom payment. Threat intelligence platform FalconFeeds said data had been posted on the dark web. – AFP units, said a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Atlanta based CDC. “HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again agenda,” HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement. – Reuters

tone in recent weeks, while highlighting their trade talks. Modi earlier last week called Trump to congratulate him on “the success of the Gaza peace plan” and described the United States as a “close friend and natural partner”. But away from the public rhetoric, strained US-India ties have given New Delhi fresh incentive to warm up to Beijing. Relations between the two Asian giants turned frosty after a deadly border clash in 2020, with New Delhi subsequently blocking Chinese mobile applications and freezing its investments in critical sectors. Despite being one of the first few countries to start trade negotiations with Washington, India has so far failed to secure a deal that would ease its 50% tariff burden. – AFP

importance critical minerals to both of our nations.” Gor said the United States values its relationship with India. “I am optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations.” Modi said he was “glad” to meet Gor and wished him a “successful tenure” in India. “I am confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership,” Modi posted on X. Gor also met Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, top diplomat Vikram Misri and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The meetings came as Trump and Modi have taken a more conciliatory of

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NEW DELHI: Newly confirmed US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor (pic) used his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk trade, defence and critical minerals, as the nations seek to amend soured ties. Relations between the world’s two largest democracies have plummeted over tariffs, negotiations for a trade deal and policy changes like an annual US$100,000 (RM422,361) fee for H-1B skilled worker visas. President Donald Trump has raised pressure on India, which for decades had been courted by US o Envoy ‘optimistic’ after meeting Modi

counterweight to China. Trump imposed among the heftiest tariffs in the world on India, punishing it for buying Russian oil, which Washington says helps finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Ahead of his

confirmation by the Senate last week, Trump acolyte Gor had voiced hope for keeping New Delhi in US good graces. “We just finished an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi where we discussed bilateral issues including defence, trade, and technology,” Gor said in a statement released by the US Embassy in New Delhi late on Saturday. “We also discussed the

A damaged vehicle swept away by floodwaters propped up against a truck in Poza Rica, Veracruz state. – REUTERSPIC

At least 41 dead in Mexico floods TENANGO DE DORIA: Floods caused by torrential rains have killed at least 41 people in Mexico in recent days and left behind a trail of destruction. Mexico’s civil defence authorities reported intense rainfall in 31 of 32 states, causing rivers to overflow, flooding villages, triggering landslides and collapsing roads and bridges.

The main disaster area has been Sierra Madre Oriental, a mountain range that runs parallel to the Gulf of Mexico coast. It is dotted with small communities, many of which were blocked off on Friday. Meteorologist Isidro Cano said the intense rainfall since Thursday was caused by a seasonal shift and cloud formation as warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico rises to the mountaintops. – AFP losses, said one of the sources familiar with data on the layoffs. But soon after, 90 staffers at units employing 700 people confirmed their notices had been reversed by Saturday evening, said the person, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The cuts targeted only workers deemed “non-essential” by their

teams from the Mexican government to open roads and assist communities,”wrote President Claudia Sheinbaum on X. She said thousands of troops, boats, planes and helicopters have been deployed to assist rescue efforts. The military will help distribute aid in affected areas, with more than 10,000 troops deployed, along with rescue equipment and vehicles. Shelters were open for those displaced from their homes. respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Democrats for the latest round of layoffs, which extend across the US government, following through on his shutdown-related threats. Around 400 CDC staff reported receiving notices indicating their entire units had been laid off, totalling an estimated 1,300 job

and 90 communities inaccessible to rescuers, the federal security secretariat said on Saturday. It said that neighbouring Puebla state had at least nine dead. Around 80,000 people have been affected by the extreme weather in Puebla, the state government said. Floods have killed five people in the eastern state of Veracruz and one in Queretaro state, in central Mexico, officials said. “We are deploying personnel and

The central state of Hidalgo has been among the worst-affected areas, with authorities there reporting at least 22 dead, 1,000 homes damaged

CDC reverses hundreds of staff sackings WASHINGTON: In the second week of the US government shutdown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified some 1,300 employees they would be laid off – then rescinded hundreds of those notices within hours. four sources told Reuters on Saturday. A crowd-sourced list from CDC employees, reviewed by Reuters, suggested several units, including the entire Washington office, were targeted for termination. Two sources within the CDC and two at other health agencies confirmed the list’s validity. The White House and CDC did not The Trump administration is set to lay off entire offices and hundreds of CDC workers as part of mass job cuts during the federal shutdown,