Quick Reads
News Dabba for 03 December 2025: Five stories for a balanced news diet
Here are the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites.
Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Delhi's respiratory cases, Centre revoking the order to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app, to Kremlin's response to US plan.
Delhi sees over 2 Lakh respiratory cases in 6 major hospitals in 3 years
In a stark revelation tabled in Parliament, NDTV reports that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has disclosed that six major central government hospitals in Delhi recorded a staggering 2,04,758 cases of acute respiratory illness (ARI) presenting to emergency departments between 2022 and 2024. Of these, 30,420 patients - nearly 15 percent - required hospitalisation, underscoring the severe health toll of the capital's chronic air pollution crisis. The report says that the data was tabled by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, in reply to Question No. 274 raised by Rajya Sabha MP Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney (Nominated). Read the full report here.
Govt revokes order mandating preloading of Sanchar Saathi app after backlash, Indian Express
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has revoked its order directing smartphone companies to mandatorily preload the state-owned Sanchar Saathi application, days after it sparked concerns around privacy and potential surveillance. Indian Express reports that the initial order, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on November 28, directed smartphone manufacturers and importers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi applications on new phones, and also on old phones by means of a software update. The functions of the app can not be disabled or restricted, it said. Sanchar Saathi is a state-developed cybersecurity application and allows users to report fraudulent calls, messages and stolen mobile phones. Earlier in the day, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the government was ready to change the order if needed, the report says. Read the full report here.
Kremlin denies Putin rejected all of US peace plan for Ukraine, BBC reports
The Kremlin said today that it's wrong to suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected US proposals for peace in Ukraine after talks with US negotiators in Moscow, BBC reports. Russian officials said the meeting was "constructive" but "no compromise" had been reached over territorial concessions for Ukraine. Elsewhere, the report adds that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his aides are preparing for their own meeting with Trump's envoys in the US. Read the full report here.
Blind Persons Association in Himachal stages protest over backlog recruitment: Hindustan Times
Protesting over the non-fulfilment of their long-standing demand of backlog recruitment, Hindustan Times reports that the Blind Persons Association of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities as a "black day". They also threatened to set them ablaze outside the official residence of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu if the government fails to accept their demands by December 10. Several visually impaired people have been sitting on the protest near the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, the report says. Read the full report here.
Thailand lifts decades-old ban on afternoon alcohol sales in trial: The Straits Times
The Straits Times reports that Thailand on Wednesday relaxed decades-old alcohol sales restrictions, allowing consumers to buy wine, beer and spirits during previously prohibited afternoon hours in a six-month trial. The predominantly Buddhist country still maintains strict alcohol laws, limiting sales to specific hours and banning them on religious holidays. Liquor stores, bars and other purveyors were banned from selling alcohol from 2pm to 5pm, but the eased rules permit sales from 11am to midnight during the trial while a committee studies its impacts, the report says. Read the full report here.
