The Calcutta High Court’s division bench on Wednesday set aside a single-bench order that had cancelled the appointments of 32,000 primary teachers recruited through the 2014 TET. The court said irregularities were not proven in all cases and noted that removing teachers after nine years would cause serious hardship to families. A CBI probe had flagged issues in only 264 appointments, with 96 more under review. The bench ruled that the entire recruitment process could not be scrapped based on limited faults. The earlier order had cited absence of an aptitude test and allegations of a cash-for-jobs scam. (PC: India Today)

In Nabadwip, West Bengal, a newborn was found abandoned outside a bathroom in a railway colony on a freezing night. Miraculously, a pack of stray dogs stood guard around the baby, keeping it safe until residents arrived at dawn. Locals wrapped the infant in cloth and rushed it to Maheshganj and Krishnanagar Sadar hospitals. Doctors confirmed the baby was unharmed. Police are investigating who abandoned the child. Residents praised the dogs for their protective behavior, saying they showed more care than the unknown person who left the baby. The community offered food to the dogs afterward. (PC: Gemini AI)

A technical glitch disrupted airport check-in systems across India on Wednesday, causing flight delays and confusion. Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport saw crowds of passengers seeking updates, while Bengaluru faced delayed and cancelled flights. Airlines including IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air India Express were affected. Microsoft reported global service outages impacting IT systems. Airlines switched to manual check-ins to manage operations. Delhi International Airport warned of possible delays due to operational issues. Air India confirmed the system is now restored and flights are back on schedule. IndiGo offered alternate flights or refunds for affected passengers. (PC: India Today)

Delhi saw more than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness in six state-run hospitals between 2022 and 2024, the government told Parliament. Over 30,000 patients required hospitalisation during this period. The capital’s toxic air, worsened in winter, is linked to vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, low wind, cold temperatures, and crop stubble burning. Delhi’s Air Quality Index often exceeds 20 times the World Health Organization limit. Hospitals report rising cases, including among children. The Delhi High Court will hear a petition demanding urgent action to curb pollution. Authorities say more study is needed to confirm the exact cause-effect link. (PC: BBC)

The Supreme Court directed the Union government to bring back Sunali Khatun, a pregnant woman, and her eight-year-old son from Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds. The court asked that she receive urgent medical care and be allowed to stay near her family in Birbhum, West Bengal. The Centre agreed, recording its undertaking in court. The bench emphasized humanity over technicalities and said the child would also receive necessary assistance. The order follows earlier High Court directions and concerns over her deportation without proper inquiry. The SC clarified the move is humanitarian and does not affect the Centre’s legal arguments. (PC: HT)

Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday denied claims that the Sanchar Saathi app could be used for snooping. Speaking in Lok Sabha, he said such use of the app was “not possible” and stressed that the government wants to empower people to protect themselves. His remarks came after criticism over a DoT order asking phone makers to pre-install the app on all devices. Scindia said the app is voluntary and can be deleted by users. The Sanchar Saathi platform helps people check mobile connections linked to their IDs, report fraud numbers and trace lost phones. (PC: India Today)

The Indian rupee hit an all-time low on Wednesday, slipping past 90 per US dollar for the first time, trading at 90.11 by 10 AM with no signs of stabilization. The slide, driven by weak foreign portfolio flows, US-India trade uncertainty, and global dollar strength, caught markets off guard despite building pressure for weeks. The Reserve Bank of India intervened to calm volatility but with limited success. A weaker rupee increases import costs for crude oil, electronics, and industrial goods, raises overseas loan repayment burdens, and impacts students and travelers. Analysts warn volatility will persist unless foreign flows stabilize, with markets watching whether RBI will defend the 90-level more forcefully. (PC: Reuters)

Air India said one of its aircraft flew without a valid airworthiness review certificate. The airline called the incident “regrettable” and said safety rules were not followed. The issue was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation as soon as it was found. Air India said all staff involved in the decision to operate the aircraft have been suspended while a review is carried out. The airline added that it has begun a full internal probe and is working with the regulator. Air India said it remains committed to strict safety standards and full compliance with all rules. (PC: HT)

Sunali Khatun, pregnant and from Birbhum in West Bengal, was taken by Delhi police in June while working as a rag-picker, and later deported to Bangladesh under suspicion of illegal entry, though her family claims Indian citizenship documents. Her father says he is “waiting for her to walk through the door,” as she remains stranded in Bangladesh despite legal appeals and the Supreme Court of India asking the government to repatriate her and her family on humanitarian grounds. (PC: The Hindu)

The Sanchar Saathi app, which the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directed to be pre-installed on all new smartphones and rolled out via update on existing ones, has sparked privacy and surveillance concerns due to mandatory registration and system-level permissions on Android. In response, Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified users may delete the app and are not required to register, making usage optional. Critics maintain that the app’s access to call logs, SMS, storage and other sensitive data remains a significant concern. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)