India

The Centre has withdrawn its order directing smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app, citing a ten-fold rise in voluntary downloads. The November 28 mandate had stirred political controversy, with opposition parties alleging potential snooping risks

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said FPOs are essential for turning farmers into entrepreneurs and driving rural economic growth. Speaking at a farmers’ outreach programme in East Godavari, he highlighted value addition, irrigation support and sustainable farming practices as key priorities

Multiple airports across India reported check-in system disruptions on Wednesday morning, forcing airlines to shift to manual processing and causing flight delays. A message at Varanasi airport cited a Windows outage, but Microsoft denied any such issue. Authorities are assessing the situation

Green Gold Animation has launched Green Gold TV, a 24x7 Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel offering popular animated shows and movies in Hindi. Available across major connected TV platforms, the channel will debut in December with six marquee titles

Police have intensified surveillance at Sabarimala as pilgrim turnout nears one lakh and reports of thefts and related offences rise. A special team has been deployed at key points, particularly Pampa, Sannidhanam, Neelimala and Appachimedu, to curb pickpocketing and theft

A Delhi court extended NIA custody of Jasir Bilal Wani, accused in the Red Fort blast, for seven more days. Wani was arrested for allegedly modifying drones and helping plan attacks. Seven people have been arrested in the case so far

The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 2.58 crore belonging to Himachal Assistant Drug Controller Nishant Sareen and his associate in a money-laundering probe linked to bribery, forgery, extortion, and disproportionate assets. The cumulative seized assets now stand at Rs 5.78 crore

The Enforcement Directorate attached two Chennai flats worth Rs 2.04 crore belonging to Sresan Pharma promoter G Ranganathan over money laundering linked to Coldrif cough syrup, implicated in at least 20 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh

The Karnataka High Court rejected Prajwal Revanna’s appeal and bail plea in the sex CD and rape case, citing risks of influencing witnesses and the seriousness of pending cases. The bench held that suspending his sentence could impact related trials

The Bhagyanagar National Dance Festival at Ravindra Bharathi brought together leading dancers from across India, featuring performances in five classical forms. The event honoured renowned artistes including Ileana Citaristi and showcased the diverse cultural traditions upheld by prominent dance organisations

An encounter erupted between security forces and Naxalites in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force, and CRPF’s CoBRA units engaged in an ongoing anti-Maoist operation in west Bastar forests

Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), an IEX associate, plans to go public via an IPO through an offer for sale by existing shareholders; details on size and timing are yet to be announced

The Army Ordnance Corps Centre, Secunderabad held the Passing Out Parade for 478 Agniveers of Batch 06/25 after completing 31 weeks of rigorous basic and advanced training under the Agnipath Scheme. The event was reviewed by senior AOC officials.

Pahargaon police station in South Andaman ranks second nationally for excellence, recognized by MHA for crime control, community policing, public service, coastal security, and dedicated support for women, children, and juveniles

Priyanka Chopra Jonas says, as a producer, she backs stories that move her personally, highlighting the documentary 'Born Hungry' on chef Sash Simpson, and aims to support bold, unique filmmakers

Former Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam case, after spending nearly seven months in Jaipur Central Jail

India and the UAE are streamlining visas, extradition, and legal cooperation to boost travel, business, and security. Talks focus on liberalised visas, faster extradition, mutual legal assistance, and smoother movement for workers, tourists, and professionals amid growing bilateral trade

Vidya Wires Ltd’s Rs 300-crore IPO was fully subscribed within hours, receiving bids for 5.07 crore shares against 4.33 crore on offer. Retail investors oversubscribed 1.91 times. Proceeds will fund new projects, debt repayment, and general corporate purposes

Aamir Khan announced *Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos*, a quirky spy comedy marking Vir Das’ directorial debut. Starring Das and Mona Singh, the film releases on January 16, 2026, under Aamir Khan Productions, blending comedy, action, romance, and spy elements

Rajya Sabha saw a heated exchange after AITC’s Dola Sen raised the Home Ministry’s directive to rename Raj Bhavans as Lok Bhavans. Debate veered into MGNREGA, prompting Chair and J.P. Nadda to restrict discussion to the original subject, sparking opposition protests

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Lok Sabha that the Sanchar Saathi app cannot enable snooping and exists solely to protect users. Amid criticism of mandatory pre-installation on all smartphones, he said the app empowers citizens and can be deleted if unwanted

Opposition leaders met in Parliament to coordinate their Winter Session strategy, highlighting unity on demanding a discussion on electoral reforms, including SIR. With TMC absent again, parties also protested outside Parliament against new labour codes, calling them anti-worker and seeking their withdrawal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised President Donald Trump for brokering multiple peace deals, including what he called “very dangerous” ones like India–Pakistan, asserting Trump deserves major credit for reshaping US foreign policy. India, however, continues to deny any third-party mediation

A major technical glitch affecting multiple IndiGo aircraft and other airlines caused chaos at Hyderabad’s RGIA from Tuesday night, leading to 33 flight cancellations. Nearly 1,000 passengers were stranded overnight, with disrupted schedules and missed international connections