Lifestyle

The US has expanded social-media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, requiring all profiles be public from December 15. The move tightens immigration scrutiny amid broader restrictions, including paused Green Card processing for 19 countries following a deadly shooting involving an Afghan national

Veteran producer and AVM Studios chief M Saravanan died in Chennai at 86 after prolonged health issues. A key figure in Tamil cinema, he produced landmark films, revived AVM with Rajinikanth’s Murattu Kaalai, nurtured stars like Kamal Haasan, and expanded the iconic studio

IndiGo operations remained disrupted for the third consecutive day in Hyderabad, with 55 flights cancelled or delayed. The airline cited winter schedules, tech glitches, congestion and revised crew-duty rules, and said schedule adjustments over 48 hours aim to restore stability.

“The Family Man” season three becomes Prime Video’s biggest 2025 launch, trending globally as Manoj Bajpayee’s Srikant Tiwari turns fugitive, protecting his family while evading enemies and his own agency, racing to stop a national crisis in Raj & DK’s acclaimed spy saga

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

Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar-Jones will star in Disney+ comedy series Mosquito, created by Tony McNamara, exploring a young couple’s unraveling secrets triggered by an intrusive mosquito

Hyderabad hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in viral fevers and influenza-like illnesses amid overcast and chilly weather. Patients with high fever, body aches and cough are crowding clinics and major hospitals. The DPH has advised vulnerable groups to seek early medical care.

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

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

A system outage disrupted check-in operations at multiple airports on Wednesday, delaying several flights. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India Express were among the affected airlines. Airports switched to manual check-ins as Microsoft Windows reportedly faced a major global service outage.

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry before the actor’s fatal overdose, faces sentencing in Los Angeles. Prosecutors seek three years in prison, while his lawyers argue he’s already suffered severe personal and professional consequences

The Trump administration has halted immigration applications — including green cards and naturalisations — for migrants from 19 travel-ban countries, citing national security concerns after a National Guard troop was killed near the White House. USCIS will re-review all cases dating back to January 2021.

Malaysia will restart the deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on December 30, with Ocean Infinity set to conduct a 55-day operation in high-priority zones of the southern Indian Ocean under a no-find, no-fee contract.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh’s BNP, plans to return from London as his mother, former PM Khaleda Zia, remains critically ill on ventilation. Security around her Dhaka hospital has been tightened amid heightened political and electoral developments

Envoys from France, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria and the UK reaffirmed commitment to deeper ties with India during Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, highlighting cooperation in tourism, education, green technologies, agri-business and cultural exchange as the event’s international profile and economic engagement continue to grow

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the mandatory pre-installed Sanchar Saathi fraud-reporting app can be deleted by users. The DoT has ordered all new and updated mobile devices to include the app, aiming to expand awareness and protection against phone-related fraud

Air India said it “regrettable” flew an Airbus A320 at least eight times last month despite an expired airworthiness certificate. The airline has suspended involved personnel and launched an internal probe, as the DGCA investigates the lapse. The aircraft remains grounded.

An IndiGo Kuwait–Hyderabad flight with 228 passengers was diverted to Mumbai on Tuesday after Hyderabad Airport received a bomb threat email. The aircraft landed safely, and emergency teams were deployed. The incident comes amid a rise in recent hoax bomb alerts nationwide.

Overcoming early health complications through water therapy, 23-year-old Pratyasa Ray has become one of India’s top swimmers, winning multiple KIUG medals. Despite a shoulder fracture, she returned strong and now aims for the 2026 Asian Games after continued national and international success

A long-hidden Rubens Crucifixion painting, mis-attributed for centuries and valued at only US$10,000, was authenticated by experts and sold in Versailles for US$2.3 million after scientific analysis confirmed pigments and provenance tracing back to William Bouguereau’s collection

A Kerala software employee was arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly misbehaving with an air-hostess on a Dubai–Hyderabad flight. Reportedly intoxicated, he touched her inappropriately and left an obscene note. Police booked him under BNS Sections 74, 75 and other provisions; he was remanded

Around 6,000 Airbus A320-family aircraft worldwide — including over 350 in India — are being grounded this weekend for a mandatory software update linked to a JetBlue incident. The precautionary exercise may disrupt schedules, with operations expected to stabilise by December 1–2.

The Supreme Court-appointed SIT arrested serving TTD official RSSVR Subrahmanyam in the Tirumala laddu ghee adulteration scam. Investigators allege he certified substandard ghee for bribes, linking TTD officials with fake dairy suppliers that provided 68 lakh kg spurious ghee between 2019 and 2024

Sri Lanka’s floods and landslides have killed 56 people, with 21 missing, prompting a nationwide public holiday. Nearly 44,000 residents are affected as Cyclone Ditwah brings heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption, including suspended rail services and diverted flights