iPhone 18

The investigation into the alleged suicide of IIT Bombay second-year student Sahil Vakode is centering on his locked iPhone. Mumbai Police are attempting to access data protected by a pattern lock to review digital activity surrounding the September 18 examination. Officers are reconstructing a 47-minute window between Sahil exiting the exam hall and arriving at the hospital, alongside forensic analysis of his laptop and campus CCTV footage. More than 20 students, faculty, and staff have been questioned. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Castes has launched an inquiry, while Sahil's parents are staging a hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding a fair CBI probe and the arrest of Professor Suryanarayan Dula. The case was transferred from Powai Police to the Mumbai Crime Branch after the family alleged caste-based harassment under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, claiming Sahil was targeted prior to being caught allegedly using a mobile phone during the test.

The Mumbai Crime Branch has intensified its probe into the death of IIT Bombay student Sahil Vakode, focusing on a crucial 47-minute timeline between his departure from the examination hall at 12:38 PM and his arrival at his hostel room at 1:25 PM on September 18. Investigators are scrutinising CCTV footage along the route to reconstruct his movements. A major challenge facing investigators is Vakode's encrypted pattern-locked iPhone, which has been sent to the forensic science laboratory to retrieve digital records, chat histories, search logs, and exam-related activity. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has recorded statements from 20 to 25 individuals, including students and hostel staff, while Professor Suryanarayana Dula's statement is yet to be recorded. Vakode's parents launched a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, demanding the arrest of the professor, an impartial investigation, and a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry following meetings with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

As artificial intelligence advances into autonomous execution and critical capability thresholds, the debate over whether big tech needs to hit the brakes has reached the global political stage. In this edition of Tech Today, we explore the growing calls to slow down frontier AI development, sit down exclusively with Amazon leadership on the launch of Alexa+ in India, and head to Apple Stores to capture customer reactions as iPhone 18 Pro sales go live. Big Tech Story: Why Big Tech AI Needs to Slow Down Warnings from within the tech industry are intensifying. Insiders like Jacob Coxon alongside leading lab executives including Dario Amodei and Sam Altman have raised red flags over existential safety risks and sudden capability leaps. With modern models showing autonomous execution in cyber tasks, the debate has split lawmakers worldwide. While leaders like Bernie Sanders advocate for immediate legislative guardrails, pauses on advanced models, and bans on superintelligence, voices like Donald Trump warn that slowing down in the West could hand a decisive strategic edge to competitors like China. We analyze the risks, the politics, and the challenge of governing global AI without a unified rulebook. Tech Bytes: Amazon Alexa+ Debuts in India (Exclusive Interview) Amazon has officially rolled out its generative AI-powered Alexa+ in India, designed from the ground up for Indian households. Cyrus speaks exclusively with Michele Butti, Vice President of Alexa International at Amazon, to break down what makes this upgrade different. We explore how Alexa+ moves from simple Q&As to taking real-world actions, its multi-model architecture built to handle multilingual code-mixing in Hindi and Hinglish, and what the launch means for smart home adoption in India. Tech & You: iPhone 18 Pro Sales Go Live in India The annual flagship rush is officially here as sales for the iPhone 18 Pro series open across Apple Saket and retail stores nationwide. We bring you on-ground coverage capturing the energy, customer reactions, and queues of buyers picking up Apple’s latest hardware. From initial impressions of the new mechanical variable aperture camera and TSMC 2nm A20 Pro silicon to questions around real-world upgrade value, we see what Indian consumers truly think about Apple's newest Pro devices. Should AI research be paused before reaching superintelligence, or will pausing put nations behind in the global race? Are you picking up the iPhone 18 Pro this year? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! Subscribe to Tech Today for the latest tech news and on-ground coverage!

The sale of the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max has commenced across India, witnessing long queues of buyers outside the Apple store in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. Customers waited for hours to purchase the newly launched devices, particularly the Burgundy colour variant. Buyers interviewed outside the store shared their motivations for upgrading, ranging from newly introduced features to personal passion and routine upgrades. Several shoppers addressed the high pricing of the models, explaining how they manage expenses or compromise on travel plans to afford the latest smartphones.

This news broadcast covers key national and corporate developments, starting with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) initiating legal adjudication against Nestle India over promotional claims for infant formulas such as NAN EXELA Pro Stage 1 and Lactogen Pro 1 under the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act.

Long queues formed outside the Apple store in Mumbai's BKC as customers gathered to purchase the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Buyers expressed excitement over new features and colour options such as burgundy, with some stating they upgraded from older models like the iPhone 16 Pro. Customers discussed the high cost of the devices, with prices cited around 1.65 lakh to 1.80 lakh rupees. Several buyers noted they cut down on travel and holiday expenses to afford multiple devices for themselves and their families, citing passion and personal interest in the Apple brand.

Apple stores across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru witnessed overnight queues as the official sale of the new iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro Max lineup commenced in India. Buyers camped overnight outside flagship locations, including Apple Saket in Delhi and Apple BKC in Mumbai, to receive the first units. While customers expressed satisfaction with pre-bookings and features, overall crowds were comparatively subdued due to price hikes across new and existing products, driven by import duties and currency exchange rates.

Apple has officially commenced sales of its iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in India, drawing buyers who queued up overnight at retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi. The new series introduces four colour options alongside an upgraded design finish. Key updates include an enhanced camera setup featuring variable aperture, dual capture video recording, and advanced manual controls. The devices are powered by Apple's new A20 Pro chip and incorporate an embedded vapour chamber cooling system designed to resolve past overheating concerns. Despite elevated pricing driven by import duties and taxes, strong consumer demand persists at retail outlets across the country.

Overnight queues formed outside Apple flagship stores and premium reseller locations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru as nationwide sales for the new iPhone lineup officially commenced. Buyers gathered before sunrise outside Apple Saket in Select Citywalk Mall in Delhi, while customers camped overnight at the Bandra Kurla Complex flagship store in Mumbai. Store footfall in Mumbai saw around 50 to 60 people waiting compared to over 500 in the previous year, with buyers noting price increases across the iPhone 18 lineup. The flagship devices feature major upgrades in performance, camera technology, and artificial intelligence capabilities.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has escalated its investigation into Apple's software warranty terms in India following complaints from iPhone users regarding display glitches. Several consumers reported green, pink, and white lines on screens as well as audio issues after installing the iOS 18 update, incurring repair costs of around 27,000 to 28,000 rupees. The regulator stated that charging users for hardware problems linked to software updates could violate fair trade principles. Apple has rejected the allegations, arguing that excluding software from warranty coverage is a global industry practice and it cannot insure against every technological risk. If found liable, the company could face penalties, refunds, or mandatory changes to its warranty terms.

Apple has unveiled its much-awaited foldable iPhone at a major launch event in Cupertino, alongside new iPhone Pro models, AirPods and Apple Watch upgrades.

Apple Event 2026 brings major new launches, features and announcements. Get complete details on the latest Apple products, including iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, pricing, specifications and key highlights.

iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max first look: new design, camera upgrades and key features

iPhone Duo first look: the new iPhone looks premium

Apple has officially launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, skipping a base iPhone 18 model for now. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at 1,199 US dollars, while the 18 Pro Max starts at 1,299 US dollars for the 256 GB variants, marking a 100-dollar price increase across models. Official Indian pricing is currently awaited. Alongside the smartphones, Apple introduced AirPods 5 with an open-ear design, the Apple Watch 12, and the Watch Ultra 4, with anticipation also building around Apple's first foldable phone.

Following a fatal boys' PG building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan that claimed seven lives, the Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi launched demolition drives against unauthorised constructions in Uttam Nagar, Pandav Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, and Nehru Vihar.

Apple is set to introduce major announcements at its upcoming event, with expectations centred on a new foldable iPhone Ultra featuring a book-style design, a 7.7-inch inner screen, and enhanced multitasking capabilities. The flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are anticipated to debut with the A20 Pro chip built on a two-nanometre process, improved thermal efficiency, on-device AI headroom, and variable aperture camera tech. Alongside refreshed Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 models, the event may mark a leadership transition with Tim Cook moving to executive chairman and John Turnus taking over as CEO.

Surging crude oil prices triggered cautious market sentiment as Brent crude breached the 100 dollars per barrel mark and India's crude basket reached a four-month high of 108.99 dollars, driving the rupee down and pushing the Nifty index to settle at 23,431 after dropping nearly 200 points. The India VIX surged over six percent while real estate, IT, and financial stocks faced selling pressure, contrastingly balanced by gains in metal indices and Adani Group shares. In corporate developments, Adani Group planned a 2.5 billion dollar debt refinancing alongside a 9,800 crore rupee stake sale by Adani Airports, while the government evaluated a revised offer from Fairfax Financial Holdings for IDBI Bank's strategic disinvestment. Primary market activity accelerated with six initial public offerings opening simultaneously. Additionally, sugar export constraints persisted due to ethanol blending and El Nino risks, bilateral trade discussions between India and the United States continued over tariff structures and market access, commodity projections pointed toward gold reaching two lakh rupees per ten grams, and Apple prepared product updates in Cupertino for the iPhone 18 Pro.