As the Silicon Valley ‘AI talent war’ escalates into a multi-billion dollar bidding power struggle, Google has successfully deployed a ‘boomerang’ strategy to bring its top minds back to the company. While rivals like Meta and OpenAI are offering astronomical signing bonuses as mush as $100 million, Google is winning back its former staffers with a different kind of currency: Robust computational infrastructure.Citing data, CNBC reported that approximately 20% of AI software engineers hired by Google in 2025 were former employees. This suggests that for the world’s elite engineers, the ability to build is becoming more valuable than a massive immediate paychecks.

Google has deep pockets and computational infrastructure

The report also said that during a recent internal meeting, Google’s head of compensation, John Casey, addressed the trend directly, noting that AI researchers are increasingly drawn back to Google’s “deep pockets” and its unparalleled “hefty computational infrastructure.”Google is uniquely positioned as an “all-in-one” provider with its own Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), a Cloud to host AI models, and even products to help it infuse its AI services, giving it an edge that cash alone cannot buy.“We’re energized by our momentum, compute and talent. Engineers want to work here to keep building groundbreaking products,” a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying.Apart from salary and infrastructure, Google has spent months in eliminating over one-third of middle-management roles to speed up product shipping. Co-founder Sergey Brin came out of retirement to personally call and recruit top-tier candidates. More recently, the success of Gemini 3 has provided the company an edge after a rocky start in 2022.Recently, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, who is the co-founder of DeepMind, also acknowledged the shortage of AI talent, saying that this has led to a constant “rotation” of experts between the “Big Five” tech firms.

Josh Philippe delivered a match-winning performance with a scintillating 96 off 57 balls, leading Sydney Sixers to a commanding 47-run victory over Sydney Thunder in the 7th match of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at Sydney Showground Stadium.

Despite some early breakthroughs, Sixers posted a formidable total of 198/5 in their 20 overs, with contributions from Babar Azam (58) and Philippe. Thunder’s chase fell short as they managed just 151, with a spirited fightback from Sam Billings (51) and Shadab Khan (41), but the target was too steep. This victory handed Sixers their second consecutive win of the season, while Thunder remains winless.

Josh Philippe and Babar Azam steer Sydney Sixers to big total

The Sixers’ innings was anchored by a brilliant knock from Philippe, who struck 6 fours and 4 sixes to top-score with 96. After an early breakthrough by Reece Topley (3 wickets), the partnership between Philippe and Babar (58) flourished, adding 140 runs for the second wicket. Philippe’s acceleration towards the end of the innings, with a flurry of boundaries, set a tough target for the Thunder. Though the Sixers lost a couple of wickets towards the end, they posted a challenging total of 198/5, with Daniel Hughes (25) and Ben Dwarshuis (1) falling in the latter stages.

Also READ: Big Bash League 2025-26: Complete squads of all 8 teams in the BBL|15

Sydney Thunder’s struggle in chase as Jack Edwards and Joel Davies shine

Thunder’s chase was under constant pressure from the start, as they lost early wickets with both Sam Konstas and David Warner falling cheaply. With the required rate climbing, only Billings (51) and Shadab Khan (41) showed resilience, but their efforts were not enough. The Sixers’ bowlers, led by Jack Edwards (3 wickets) and Joel Davies (2 wickets), kept a tight leash on the scoring, regularly picking up wickets at crucial junctures. Thunder’s middle order crumbled under pressure, and despite some late resistance from Tanveer Sangha (8*), they fell short by 47 runs, finishing at 151 all out in 19.1 overs.

Sydney Sixers got the better of Sydney Thunder in BBL|15 💪#BBL15 pic.twitter.com/UMDMK6dp2b

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 20, 2025

Also READ: BBL 2025-26: Broadcast, Live Streaming details – When and where to watch the Big Bash League in Australia, India, USA, UK & other countries

Gold, one of the strongest-performing assets this year, is expected to remain “moderately to strongly positive” in 2026, while silver is also likely to retain its momentum, according to a market outlook report by financial advisory firm PL Capital, PTI reported.Gold prices have risen more than 60 per cent so far in 2026, supported by strong global demand, ETF inflows, central-bank purchases and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty. Global gold demand touched a record 1,313 tonnes in the July–September quarter of 2025, the report said.“India has recorded its highest gold ETF inflows on record this year. The 2026 outlook (for gold) stays moderately to strongly positive,” PL Capital said.Silver, meanwhile, has significantly outperformed gold, gaining over 100 per cent in 2025 and crossing the USD 60 per ounce mark. The report attributed the rally to a powerful industrial demand cycle, driven by sectors such as solar photovoltaic systems, electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors and power electronics.“Supply remains in structural deficit, reinforcing the strong outlook for 2026,” it said.On the domestic front, PL Capital noted that India entered December with strong momentum, record-low inflation and improving earnings visibility. The Reserve Bank of India’s 25 basis points cut in the repo rate to 5.25 per cent, along with lower CPI projections and upgraded GDP estimates, is expected to support a favourable rate environment through 2026.Indian equities, the report said, have shown resilience amid global uncertainty, with the Sensex and Nifty rising about 8–9 per cent cumulatively in 2026 so far.“Over the next 6–24 months, the earnings cycle is expected to broaden across consumption, financials, capex-linked sectors and select industrials,” PL Capital said, adding that it retained a large-cap bias in the near term while selectively adding high-quality midcaps as earnings visibility improves.Preferred investment themes for 2026 include banks, non-banking financial companies, consumer staples and discretionary stocks, defence and ports, the report added.

India’s Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar)

When India announced their squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Kishan’s name was back where it once felt natural. In a list that came with big talking points—Shubman Gill being dropped, Axar Patel named vice-captain, Rinku Singh returning—Kishan’s inclusion stood out for a different reason. It felt earned the hard way.At one point, when it seemed Kishan may have played his last game for India and would not return for a while, this comeback is both surprising and inspiring.

Two years ago, he was part of India’s regular white-ball plans. An aggressive opener who could also bat in the middle order. A left-hander who could change games in a few overs. Kishan was also drafted in India’s white-ball setup as a like-for-like replacement for Rishabh Pant and seen as India’s second-choice wicketkeeper. He even made his Test debut against the West Indies in July 2023.Then things began to slip. He stepped away from a South Africa tour in late 2023, citing personal reasons and mental fatigue. The timing was poor, and the explanation did not land well. Questions followed.Then came the bigger blow.Kishan made himself unavailable for domestic cricket during that period. The BCCI took note. When the central contracts were announced in 2024, his name was missing. The board ended its release with an unusually direct reminder that players must give precedence to domestic cricket when not on national duty. The message was clear, and it was not meant for just one player.Around the same time, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had written to centrally contracted players, warning them against prioritising the IPL over domestic and national commitments. The letter spoke of severe implications. Kishan became one of the first visible examples of that line being enforced, along with Shreyas Iyer. Shah told the Times of India, “If you look at the Duleep Trophy squad, apart from Rohit and Virat, the rest are going to play. It’s because of the harsh steps I have taken. Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan are playing Duleep Trophy.”India’s head coach at the time, Rahul Dravid, later said Kishan had not made himself available for selection and would need to play domestic cricket to be considered again. Even captain Rohit Sharma spoke publicly about the need for hunger, especially in the longer formats. In Kishan’s absence, Dhruv Jurel debuted in Tests, made an immediate impact, and became India’s second-choice wicketkeeper and a backup to Rishabh Pant.During this period, Kishan did not react publicly. No interviews. No emotional statements. He went back home to Jharkhand and did the one thing selectors always ask for but do not always reward—he played domestic cricket seriously.In IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad picked Kishan. He started the season with a storm, scoring a century in his very first game against Rajasthan Royals, helping SRH post a mammoth total of 286 for 6. Everyone thought this IPL would be Kishan’s redemption arc. But what followed was not a smooth story. Despite the opening century, Kishan ended the season with 354 runs. His 94 not out against RCB at the very end stood out, but runs did not flow consistently in the rest of the games.What followed was the best phase of his career.Leading Jharkhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Kishan played with clarity and purpose. He did not look like someone chasing a comeback. He looked like someone enjoying responsibility. Jharkhand went on to win their maiden SMAT title. Kishan finished as the tournament’s highest run-getter with 517 runs in 10 innings. Two hundreds. Two fifties. A strike rate brushing 200. And then the biggest one of all—a century in the final against Haryana.Two days later, India announced their World Cup squad.Timing matters in cricket. Kishan finally got it right.Speaking after the announcement, his words were simple. He spoke about happiness. About Jharkhand. About the team effort. Nothing about redemption. Nothing about proving a point. That told its own story.This selection was not driven by emotion. It was about balance and combination.With India deciding to go back to opening with a wicketkeeper-batter, the selectors wanted flexibility. Sanju Samson is the first-choice wicketkeeper. They needed a second option who could also open. That edged Jitesh Sharma out of the picture. Kishan fitted the role better.Ajit Agarkar was clear at the press conference. Shubman Gill missed out because of lack of runs and team balance. Gill remains India’s ODI and Test captain. This was not a long-term judgement. It was a short-format call.India squad for T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rinku Singh.

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Nine US lawmakers have sent a letter to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking a ‘ban’ on 17 Chinese companies. In the letter, the lawmakers urged Pentagon (now Department of War) to add these companies to its 1260H list over alleged links to the Chinese military. List of companies that the letter includes are Chinese AI firm DeepSeek; smartphone maker Xiaomi, chip companies Hua Hong Semiconductor, Kingsemi and Shennan Circuit; display and imaging companies BOE Technology Group and Tianma Microelectronics; sensing, surveillance and robotics firms CloudMinds, LeiShen, Livox, RoboSense, Tiandy Technologies, Unitree Robotics and others.In the letter, the lawmakers said that the firms “represent the next logical tranche of military-civil fusion contributors whose designation under Section 1260H would directly support Congress’s intent that US taxpayer funds not underwrite PRC military-industrial and internal-security or intelligence capabilities”.

The letter is signed by: John Moolenaar, Chairman, Select Committee on China; Rick Scott, Chairman, Senate Special Committee on Aging; Eric A. “Rick” Crawford, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Andrew R. Garbarino, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security; Rob Wittman, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee; Bill Huizenga, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, South & Central Asia Subcommittee; Dusty Johnson, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee; Darin LaHood, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on NSA and Cyber; Andy Ogles, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee.

What is Pentagon’s 1260H list

Pentagon’s 1260H list is a US Department of Defense roster of Chinese military-linked companies that are believed to support China’s defence or intelligence activities. It is required under Section 1260H of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Companies on the list face increased scrutiny, restrictions on US government contracts, and potential sanctions. The list is used to warn US entities against doing business with firms tied to China’s military–civil fusion strategy.

Letter signed by 9 US lawmakers seeking to ban DeepSeek, Xiaomi and other Chinese firms

The letter, dated December 18, 2025 reads:Dear Secretary Hegseth:We write to urge you to expand the Department’s list of Chinese military companies maintained pursuant to Section 1260H of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to include a set of Chinese firms that support “military-civil fusion” (MCF) and advance People’s Liberation Army (PLA) capabilities across various sectors, including: biotechnology and life sciences; sensing, surveillance, and robotics; consumer smart devices; large-scale AI models; displays and imaging; semiconductors and manufacturing equipment; and power batteries and energy storage.We applaud recent actions taken by the Department, including the addition of Tencent to the1260H list in January 2025 as well as reports that an October 7 letter from Deputy Secretary ofWar Stephen Feinberg informed the Armed Services Committees that Alibaba, Baidu, and BYDshould be added to the list of companies that aid the PRC’s military.The firms listed below represent military-civil fusion contributors central to PLA modernization,internal-security operations, and power-projection capabilities. Their designation under Section1260H would directly support Congress’ intent that U.S. taxpayer funds not underwrite PRCmilitary-industrial and internal-security or intelligence capabilities.

NEW DELHI: The Indian selectors on Saturday announced the squad for the T20 World Cup, dropping Shubman Gill from and recalling wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan along with Rinku Singh, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav, despite a recent dip in form, said he remains confident of rediscovering his best with the bat. PM Modi in Assam defended SIR and hit out at INDIA bloc for opposing it terming it as an attempt to protect infiltrators, calling them “ deshdhrois.” Meanwhile, Sonai Gandhi attacked PM Modi over the VB-G RAM G Bill, which she says undermines the rural employment guarantee scheme. The government has pushed back, calling the new law a reform measure, even as the bill’s passage sparked protests in Parliament. In Kerala, the killing of a Dalit migrant worker in Palakkad has triggered outrage, with police arresting five people as they probe a case of suspected mob violence that has raised concerns over migrant safety. Whereas, in the US questions were raised over transparency after the justice department released thousands of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, with many documents still redacted or withheld despite a congressional deadline.

Here are your top five stories of the evening:

T20 World Cup squad: Captain Suryakumar speaks up on his form after Gill’s omission

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, the selectors have left out Shubman Gill. Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh have been recalled to the squad, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav, despite a recent dip in form, said he remains confident of rediscovering his best with the bat. As the defending champions gear up for the tournament, the team will be banking on a strong turnaround from their captain to lead the title defence. Read full story

‘Deshdrohis trying to protect infiltrators’: PM Modi defends SIR at Assam rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday defended SIR in Assam and hit out at INDIA bloc for opposing it terming it as an attempt to protect infiltrators. He also criticized the previous Congress government for neglecting Assam and the Northeast’s development. He said the Modi government is rectifying past mistakes and is committed to the region’s progress. Read full story

‘Attack on poor’: Sonia Gandhi slams PM Modi over VB-G RAM G Bill, criticises repealing of MGNREGA

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on PM Modi, alleging that the newly introduced VB-G RAM G Bill aimed at replacing MGNREGA will adversely impact the poor. The government, however, has defended the legislation, saying it seeks to strengthen and improve MGNREGA, which it claims was riddled with corruption. The bill’s passage in Parliament triggered protests from opposition parties. Read full story

‘Mistaken for Bangladeshi national’: Dalit man beaten to death in Kerala

A Dalit migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, Ramnarayan Baghel, was killed in a suspected case of mob violence in Kerala’s Palakkad district. Preliminary reports indicate he may have been wrongly identified as a Bangladeshi national and suspected of theft following a local incident. Police have arrested five people in connection with the case and are continuing their investigation. Read full story

Epstein files opened: From steamy photos to call logs – What’s all in it

The US department of justice has made public thousands of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, though a large number of records have yet to be released. Congress had set a December 19 deadline for disclosure, and while some files are now available, many are either heavily redacted or were already in the public domain. The limited release has prompted criticism from lawmakers who say the disclosure falls short of expectations. Read full story

KOCHI: In another instance of police brutality, CCTV footage from Ernakulam North police station shows a pregnant woman being slapped by the station house officer on June 20, 2024. The footage surfaced on Thursday after the woman and her husband obtained it following a year-and-ahalf-long legal battle.The woman, N J Shaimol (43), who was three months’ pregnant at the time of the assault had visited the police station to question the alleged illegal arrest of her husband. The CCTV visuals, released following a Kerala high court order, show Shaimol entering the station carrying her infant twins.The footage shows inspector K G Prathapachandran, in plain clothes, slapping her moments after another woman — apparently a police officer also in plain clothes — took the babies from her.The inspector is now posted as the station house officer of Aroor police station. Police sources said departmental action, including suspension, is likely against Prathapachandran.Was reacting to woman’s sudden provocation, claims inspectorShaimol’s husband, Benjo, was arrested after he allegedly recorded visuals of police using force while arresting two youths near the tourist home he manages. Police were reportedly irked by his action and booked him in the case.“I clearly told the inspector, on seeing my wife entering the station, that she was pregnant. I do not know what to say about someone who would slap her despite being told that,” Benjo said. “My wife later delivered the baby, who is now one year old. We have been fighting to get this footage all this while, and today we finally received a copy.”Benjo said he still did not know why the police arrested the two youths who worked at a nearby restaurant. “I recorded the video because they were crying out loudly. I was booked for obstructing police and I spent five days in jail,” he said,alleging that he was beaten up in the station, in areas without CCTV coverage. Police had earlier denied Shaimol’s version of events and accused her of obstructing official duty and endangering her children. The CCTV visuals have contradicted thepolice claim. Police had also alleged that Shaimol had shattered the glass front door of the station. She maintained that these were false allegations and a case was foisted on her as well.On Thursday, inspector Prathapachandran told the media that Benjo was an accused in criminal cases, including one in which he helped accused in another case escape, and Shaimol threatened to kill her children if her husband was not released. He further claimed that she shoved him twice and his action was a reaction to the “sudden provocation.”Several incidents of police excesses at stations were exposed after the release of station CCTV visuals. In Sept, police suspended four officers who served at Kunnamkulam police station for assaulting Youth Congress local leader V S Sujith in 2023, after he obtained station CCTV visuals under the RTI Act after a long legal battle.

As the pool of skilled tradespeople continues to shrink in the US, Walmart is moving to strengthen its in-house workforce to keep its vast operations running — from conveyor belts and refrigeration systems to electrical networks and basic infrastructure at stores and distribution centres, AP reported.The world’s largest retailer and biggest private employer has revamped its training programme over the past year to expand the pipeline of maintenance technicians, a category of jobs that has become increasingly difficult to fill amid a tightening labour market. These technicians handle tasks ranging from equipment repair to electrical and mechanical work across Walmart’s logistics hubs and retail outlets.The shortage has opened new career paths for workers such as Liz Cardenas, 24, who joined Walmart in May 2023 as an automation equipment operator at a distribution centre in Lancaster, Texas. Her initial role involved monitoring conveyor belts to ensure cartons moved smoothly. Today, she fixes conveyor systems and other machinery when they break down.Cardenas said her hourly pay has nearly doubled to $43.50, and she plans to undergo further training that could bring higher pay and responsibility. “I was able to move out of my parents’ house,” she said. “I have my own apartment. I was able to get a car, and I’m able to give more to my 401(k).”Analysts say labour shortages have been driven by a wave of retirements and a slowdown in immigration that began during the pandemic and has since intensified with President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation push. In skilled trades, the problem is sharper. A McKinsey analysis of 12 trade categories — including welders, carpenters and maintenance technicians — projected an imbalance of 20 job openings for every one net new worker between 2022 and 2032.McKinsey warned that high churn could cost companies more than $5.3 billion annually in hiring and training expenses alone. The shortages are unfolding even as some firms cut jobs amid higher costs from tariffs, shifts in consumer spending and rising investments in artificial intelligence.In response, the Business Roundtable — a lobbying group representing chief executives of about 150 major US companies — launched a new initiative in June to address shortages in skilled trades. Co-led by home improvement retailer Lowe’s, the effort involves outreach to elementary, middle and high schools to raise awareness about trade careers.“While technology continues to evolve, it cannot replace plumbers, electricians, construction workers, maintenance and repair pros, or other tradespeople,” said Lowe’s chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison.Lowe’s began a 90-day online training programme in 2022 for employees interested in trades such as carpentry and utility maintenance. Its charitable arm has also invested $43 million since 2023 in 60 organisations, including technical colleges and non-profits, to recruit and train skilled workers.Mervin Jebaraj of the University of Arkansas’s Walton College of Business said such programmes may ease shortages but will not close the gap, especially given tighter immigration. “For as long as somebody physically needs to fix this, the shortage will persist,” he said. “We don’t have enough people.”Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon told AP that lack of awareness was a major factor. “Most Americans probably don’t know what a tech makes that helps take care of our stores and clubs,” he said.Walmart overhauled its tuition-free training initiative in spring 2024, initially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and later expanded it to Vincennes, Indiana, and Jacksonville, Florida. The programme blends classroom learning with hands-on instruction in HVAC, electrical work and general maintenance.Nearly 400 employees had graduated as of mid-November, Walmart said. All 108 associates from the pilot batch secured technician roles, with average pay around $32 an hour. The company aims to train 4,000 workers by 2030.R.J. Zanes, vice-president of facility services for Walmart and Sam’s Club in the US, said maintenance roles are especially critical during the holiday season. A refrigeration failure at a single store can lead to losses of $300,000 to $400,000 in spoiled goods, he said.“We have to ensure that we’ve got the right skills there to do preventative maintenance,” Zanes said, “and when we do have a breakdown, get it back up as fast as possible to minimise downtime.”