The Xiaomi 17 series is expected to launch globally, including in India, in January 2026. It may feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, Android 16, a 6.3-inch OLED display, and Leica-tuned 50MP triple cameras. A large 7,000mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging is also expected, making it a strong flagship upgrade.
Microsoft chief Satya Nadella met PM Modi and said India has huge potential in artificial intelligence. He announced a US$17.5 billion investment, the company’s largest in Asia, to support India’s AI-first plans. The funding will help improve digital infrastructure, train people in AI skills, and strengthen India’s technology.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar signed an agreement for a high-speed electric rail linking Riyadh and Doha, covering Dammam and Al Hofuf. Trains will travel over 300 km/h, connecting the capitals in two hours. Expected to serve 10 million passengers annually, the project will create 30,000 jobs and finish in six years.
Saltwater batteries use salt-based electrolytes, not rare lithium. They are safer and non-flammable. These batteries also use cheaper, abundant materials. Current energy density is lower than lithium-ion. This limits their use in electric vehicles for now. They are promising for home inverters and grid storage, especially in cost-sensitive markets like India.
Galaxy mergers are among the universe’s most spectacular events, and NASA’s Chandra Observatory has released a stunning image of IC 1623, where two distant galaxies are gradually merging. Scientists say such cosmic interactions can trigger the birth of new stars or even lead to formation of black holes. The mesmerizing image has captivated netizens worldwide.
Google can track your location even with GPS off through Wi-Fi scanning, Bluetooth scanning and saved location history. Users can prevent this by disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning under Location settings, and turning off Web & App Activity in their Google account. These steps significantly reduce continuous location tracking.
★International Anti-Corruption Day, ★Independence Day of Tanzania, ★Genocide Prevention Day in Australia, ★1742: Birth of German-Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, ★1913: Birth of Padma Vibhushan recipient Homai Vyarawala, ★1946: Birthday of Congress supreme leader Sonia Gandhi, and ★1981: Birth of Telugu actress Keerthy Chawla.
Russia has introduced a new visa aimed at attracting foreign professionals, offering temporary or permanent residence for up to three years in selected fields. The visa will be available starting April 15, 2026. Both India and Russia noted that the initiative is part of efforts to enhance the mobility deal and promote skilled workforce between […]
Samsung announced the One UI 8.5 beta program for Galaxy S25 users in India, Germany, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US. The update offers improved cross-device actions, device management, and enhanced security. Photo Assist allows uninterrupted image creation, continuous editing, and reviewing edit history to select favorite versions efficiently.
Operation Bluebird has asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Twitter’s trademarks, arguing Elon Musk’s X Corp abandoned them. The startup seeks rights to “Twitter” and “tweet” for its platform “Twitter New.” It says Musk’s overhaul has wiped the Twitter brand from all products and marketing.
TRAI has reaffirmed its satcom spectrum recommendations, rejecting DoT’s proposed fee changes affecting players like Starlink, OneWeb, and Jio SES. It upheld a 4% spectrum charge and a ₹500 annual urban fee to promote rural expansion. DoT must now decide on approval, while government schemes may still support remote-area connectivity.
OpenAI clarified after users reported seeing ads in ChatGPT. Screenshots showing brand prompts were actually app suggestions, not ads. Paid users were also affected, causing confusion. OpenAI has temporarily disabled these prompts and said no ad tests are running. Any future ads, if introduced, will be transparent and optional.
Elon Musk confirmed xAI’s Grok 4.20 will launch in 3–4 weeks, likely late December or early January. The model, spotted on Alpha Arena, outperformed GPT-5.1 and Gemini 3 Pro in simulated stock trading. Grok 4.20 promises better reasoning, financial analysis, and real-world problem-solving, while full features will be revealed at launch.
Starlink India announced its residential broadband plan at Rs 8,600/month with a Rs 34,000 one-time hardware fee. Offering unlimited data, plug-and-play setup, and 99.9% uptime, it targets remote regions. Starlink is also hiring in Bengaluru and preparing ground stations, signaling India’s launch. Business-tier pricing remains undisclosed.
Indian Navy Submarine Day, observed on Dec 8, marks the induction of India’s first submarine, INS Kalvari, in 1967. The day honors the pioneers of the submarine arm and celebrates the Navy’s underwater capabilities. It highlights India’s growing maritime strength, and the crucial role submariners play in securing the nation’s strategic interests.