India dismissed Pakistan's claims of delayed overflight clearance for a humanitarian aid flight to Sri Lanka as "ridiculous" misinformation. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated India received Pakistan's overflight request at 1 PM on December 1 and granted permission by 5:30 PM the same day processing it in just four hours despite Pakistan's ongoing ban on Indian airlines using its airspace. Indian officials called Pakistani media coverage "propaganda and fake news," emphasizing the approval was a purely humanitarian gesture following established international procedures. The clarification came amid criticism of Pakistan's relief efforts after expired aid supplies (marked October 2024) were discovered in shipments to cyclone-devastated Sri Lanka, where over 390 people have died. (PC: TOI & India Today)

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Europe on Tuesday that Russia is "ready right now" for war if European nations choose that path. Speaking at a Moscow investment forum, Putin accused European leaders of abandoning peace efforts and supporting continued hostilities in Ukraine, stating "they are on the side of war." He claimed European governments are making unacceptable demands that obstruct U.S. President Trump's negotiated settlement efforts. Putin's comments came as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held high-stakes talks in Moscow regarding a 28-point peace draft. Putin also threatened expanded strikes on Ukrainian ports and vessels, describing recent attacks on Russian tankers as "piracy" and suggesting cutting Ukraine off from sea access. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Russia remains committed to expanding trade with India despite obstacles from third countries, aiming for $100 billion in bilateral trade over the next five years, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Speaking at a Sputnik press interaction, he stated that western sanctions creating hurdles for India-Russia trade are "illegal." Peskov noted the U.S. dollar's declining share in global trade while national currencies gain prominence. During President Vladimir Putin's upcoming India visit, Russia will propose setting up small modular reactors in the civil nuclear domain, alongside military cooperation initiatives. Putin will be accompanied by officials presenting new proposals across strategic sectors as both nations work to overcome external challenges hindering their bilateral relationship.(PC: The Hindu)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a "code red" for ChatGPT as competitors Google and Anthropic rapidly gain ground in the AI race. In an internal memo, Altman announced delays to several projects including advertising plans, shopping and health agents, and the personal assistant "Pulse." The company will prioritize making ChatGPT faster, more reliable, and accurate. Altman established daily team calls and encouraged cross-team movement to accelerate development. Google's momentum has intensified, with its Gemini 3 model outperforming competitors and its infrastructure advantage enabling efficient AI deployment across Search, YouTube, and Gmail. OpenAI faces pressure to generate $200 billion annually by 2030, while Google already earns $120 billion yearly.(PC: Dubai Immo)

Pakistan faces diplomatic embarrassment after sending expired relief supplies to cyclone-devastated Sri Lanka, with images showing food and medical items marked with October 2024 expiry dates going viral online. Sri Lankan officials flagged the unusable consignment and raised concerns with Islamabad through formal and informal channels. This isn't Pakistan's first aid controversy in 2021, relief material routed through Pakistan to Afghanistan arrived contaminated and damaged. The incident occurred as Cyclone Ditwah's death toll reached 334 in Sri Lanka, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declaring a state of emergency. Meanwhile, India deployed Operation Sagar Bandhu, delivering 53 tons of relief materials, NDRF teams, and naval vessels to assist the devastated nation.

Jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan fears for his life in Adiala Jail, alleging Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is "mentally unstable" and warning "they might kill me." PTI released a statement after Khan's sister Uzma visited him in Rawalpindi's high-security prison, where he's serving a 14-year sentence for the Al-Qadir Trust graft case. Khan claims he's confined in cage-like conditions without electricity, sunlight, clean water, or medical assistance for days. He described treatment as worse than death row inmates and accused military leadership of political persecution. Despite allegations of mental torture, sources say Khan appeared "fine, fit, and in high spirits" during the 25-35 minute meeting with his sister.(PC: The Hindu)

Star India batter Virat Kohli has confirmed his availability for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, informing Delhi and District Cricket Association president Rohan Jaitley on Tuesday. The domestic 50-over competition begins December 24, with Delhi facing Andhra Pradesh in their opener. Kohli's decision ends speculation about his domestic commitments and alleged reluctance to participate. The current management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, has encouraged senior players' participation to ensure match readiness ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Kohli last played the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010 when he captained Delhi against Services. His return after 15 years aims to strengthen Delhi's campaign following disappointing performances.(PC: The Cricketer)

India has rejected Pakistan’s claim that it denied airspace for aid flights to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called Pakistan’s statement “ridiculous” and said it was another attempt to spread misinformation. India stated that the request for overflight permission was received at 1 pm on December 1. Because the aid was urgent, India processed the request the same day. The approval was given at 5:30 pm, following the plan shared by Pakistan. India said it remains committed to helping the people of Sri Lanka during this crisis. (PC: ANI Video Grab)

Apple will not comply with India’s order to preload its iPhones with the government’s ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app, sources say. The app, meant to track stolen phones and block misuse, must be installed on all new and existing devices within 90 days. Apple says the mandate raises privacy and security issues and is not required anywhere else. Other companies like Samsung and Xiaomi are reviewing the order. Critics, including opposition leaders, call it government overreach and surveillance. The telecom ministry defends it as a security measure to prevent phone fraud and control the second-hand device market. (PC: NDTV)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a fighter jet escape system at its Rocket Sled facility in Chandigarh. The system was tested at a controlled speed of 800 km/h. A dummy pilot was safely ejected, showing that the mechanism works under extreme conditions. The trial validated three key components: canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and full aircrew recovery. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised DRDO, the Indian Air Force, ADA, HAL, and partners for the achievement. The test marks a major step in strengthening India’s indigenous fighter safety technology and boosting defence self-reliance.