December
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The Winter Session of Parliament opened with Prime Minister Modi urging the opposition to prioritize 'delivery, not drama' and constructive debate. This statement set the tone for the day, dominating early morning news and sparking immediate pushback from opposition leaders like Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who emphasized the importance of parliamentary debate and criticized the government for not allowing discussions. By early afternoon, the Lok Sabha saw an adjournment due to opposition demands for debate during zero hour, even as new bills were introduced and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan was welcomed as the new Chair of Rajya Sabha. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) for voter lists continued to be a contentious issue, along with concerns about air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
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The government's Sanchar Saathi app dominated Indian media on December 2. Early reports indicated a mandate for its pre-installation on all new phones, sparking immediate controversy and opposition concerns about surveillance, linking it to Pegasus spyware. By early afternoon, the government clarified that the app was not mandatory and could be deleted, a significant retreat following widespread backlash and parliamentary disruptions. This shift was widely reported, with headlines highlighting the minister's statement. Concurrently, the Lok Sabha agreed to debate electoral reforms on December 9, and the Vande Mataram anniversary on December 8, following ongoing parliamentary stalemates. Meanwhile, Imran Khan's sister met him in jail, reporting mental torture, and India rejected Pakistan's claims of blocking humanitarian aid flights to Sri Lanka.
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The controversy surrounding the Sanchar Saathi app dominated Indian media on December 3, building on developments from the previous day. Following widespread backlash and privacy concerns, the government reversed its earlier stance, announcing in the morning that the mandatory pre-installation of the app on mobile phones was no longer required. This policy shift was widely reported across multiple sources throughout the day. Concurrently, discussions continued regarding Russian President Putin's upcoming visit to India, with parliamentary ratification of a key military pact and potential deals on modular nuclear reactors highlighted. Separately, IndiGo flights faced significant disruptions with numerous cancellations and delays due to staff shortages and technical issues.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival in India dominated media coverage throughout the day. Early reports anticipated his visit for discussions on BrahMos, trade, and agriculture. By late evening, headlines confirmed his arrival, with Prime Minister Modi personally receiving him at the Delhi airport in a rare diplomatic gesture, followed by a private dinner. This emphasized India's balancing act between US and Russian ties. Concurrently, IndiGo airlines faced significant disruptions for a third consecutive day, with hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed due to crew shortages and technical issues, leading to widespread passenger frustration and regulatory summons. Separately, the Supreme Court continued its hearing on electoral reforms, addressing concerns about the SIR process and BLO deaths.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Delhi dominated the headlines, building on his arrival the previous day. Morning reports detailed his ceremonial welcome, a 21-gun salute, and subsequent bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House. During these discussions, Modi emphasized India's stance for peace regarding the Ukraine war, while Putin affirmed Russia's commitment to a peaceful resolution. By late morning and early afternoon, both leaders delivered joint press statements, announcing the signing of multiple agreements, most notably the Vision 2030 for economic cooperation, aiming to boost trade and explore a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union. Modi highlighted the unwavering friendship, and Putin pledged uninterrupted oil supplies. The visit concluded in the late afternoon with Putin's departure for Russia, leaving a focus on the new economic and strategic agreements.
Concurrently, the IndiGo flight disruptions continued for a fourth straight day. Initial reports indicated widespread cancellations across major hubs due to crew shortages. However, the crisis saw a significant development in the late morning when the DGCA partially withdrew its new pilot duty rules, which had been cited as a major cause for the disruptions. The Civil Aviation Ministry ordered a high-level inquiry, and while IndiGo's CEO projected normalcy by December 10-15, the government aimed for stabilization within three days.
Concurrently, the IndiGo flight disruptions continued for a fourth straight day. Initial reports indicated widespread cancellations across major hubs due to crew shortages. However, the crisis saw a significant development in the late morning when the DGCA partially withdrew its new pilot duty rules, which had been cited as a major cause for the disruptions. The Civil Aviation Ministry ordered a high-level inquiry, and while IndiGo's CEO projected normalcy by December 10-15, the government aimed for stabilization within three days.
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The IndiGo flight disruptions continued to dominate Indian media on December 6, entering their fifth day. Early reports indicated persistent widespread cancellations and passenger inconvenience. The government intervened by morning, imposing fare caps on air tickets to curb opportunistic pricing and ordering passenger refunds by December 7. The Railways also deployed extra coaches and special trains to mitigate passenger issues.
By the afternoon, the government's stance hardened, with reports suggesting the Centre sought the IndiGo CEO's ouster and planned heavy penalties. The Prime Minister's Office was reportedly in touch with the CEO, and the Ministry summoned top officials. In the late afternoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, demanding a response within 24 hours, escalating regulatory scrutiny on the airline's operational issues.
Separately, Vladimir Putin's visit continued to generate headlines, with some analysis highlighting India's strategic balance. India also secured a cricket victory against South Africa in the ODI decider.
By the afternoon, the government's stance hardened, with reports suggesting the Centre sought the IndiGo CEO's ouster and planned heavy penalties. The Prime Minister's Office was reportedly in touch with the CEO, and the Ministry summoned top officials. In the late afternoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, demanding a response within 24 hours, escalating regulatory scrutiny on the airline's operational issues.
Separately, Vladimir Putin's visit continued to generate headlines, with some analysis highlighting India's strategic balance. India also secured a cricket victory against South Africa in the ODI decider.
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The tragic fire at a Goa nightclub emerged as the dominant news story throughout December 7. Early reports in the evening confirmed a cylinder blast and 23 fatalities, primarily staff members. By late evening and into the early morning, the death toll rose to 25, with Prime Minister Modi announcing ex-gratia payments. Investigations began, leading to the arrest of the club manager and owner. Eyewitness accounts, detailing the use of flowerpot crackers, a bamboo ceiling, and narrow exits, highlighted the potential causes and safety violations. Meanwhile, the IndiGo flight disruptions, a major focus of previous days, continued but showed signs of stabilizing. The airline reported refunding 610 crore rupees and restoring 1650 flights, with a parliamentary panel set to summon executives.
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The parliamentary debate surrounding 'Vande Mataram' dominated Indian media on December 8, marking its 150th anniversary. In the morning, Prime Minister Modi initiated the discussion in the Lok Sabha, calling it a proud moment and accusing the Congress of compromising the national song, citing Nehru's belief that it could incite Muslims and his agreement with Jinnah. Akhilesh Yadav countered these statements, labeling opponents 'anti-national'. Later, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the BJP of using the debate to distract from critical issues and linked it to the upcoming Bengal elections, also challenging Modi's selective quoting of Nehru. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh further intensified the debate, accusing Congress of viewing 'Vande Mataram' through Jinnah's perspective. Concurrently, the IndiGo flight disruptions persisted, with over 350 flights cancelled, and the airline responded to the DGCA's show-cause notice, seeking more time. The Goa nightclub fire investigation progressed, with reports indicating the owners fled to Thailand via an IndiGo flight, leading to calls for Interpol assistance. Actor Dileep was acquitted in the 2017 Kerala actress sexual assault case, with six others found guilty.
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