5 stories you must read today, December 1: From Sanchar Saathi to be pre-installed on all phones to son expressing concern over Imran Khan’s health and more

The Department of Telecommunications has asked smartphone companies in India to preinstall the state-developed cybersecurity application Sanchar Saathi that allows users to report fraudulent calls and messages, and stolen mobile phones. According to the DoT, the app should be pre-installed on all new devices sold in India and also made available on older devices via a software update. The DoT has made it clear that users should not be able to delete the application and has given manufacturers three months to roll it out. A senior government official said that the directive is part of a broader strategy to “strengthen cybersecurity and anti-spam measures.” Read more

Kolkata Police have announced the launch of “pink booths”, staffed entirely by women police personnel, across the city to improve women’s safety, particularly at night. According to the police, the twenty pink booths will be established across the city’s 10 police divisions, with two booths designated for each division. The police said if a woman feels threatened, she can immediately approach a pink booth for assistance, a safe space, and coordination with the concerned police station or control room for prompt action. The move follows the recent incident in which a woman was allegedly molested by three people in a moving car in the city. Read more

Kasim Khan, the son of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, has expressed concern over his father’s health and alleged that the authorities are hiding "something irreversible" about his condition. According to Kasim, the family has been denied court-ordered prison visits, and despite a judicial order for weekly meetings, they have had no direct or verifiable contact with Khan. Khan has been in jail since August 2023, serving a 14-year sentence on several corruption charges. Over the past few weeks, rumours have been spreading on social media about Khan’s condition. Jail authorities and the Pakistan government have denied the claims and have insisted that the former PM is in good shape. Read more

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea filed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and others seeking an extension of time for registering Waqf properties under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. According to Senior Advocate A M Singhvi, there were technical issues with the UMEED portal, while Kapil Sibal argued that six months is a very short time to file all the details. The SC disposed of all the applications and asked the parties to approach the Waqf Tribunal for relief. Read more

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s younger son, Abhimanyu Yadav, got married at a mass wedding ceremony in Ujjain on Saturday, along with over 21 other couples. The 22 couples took their vows together. In attendance were Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Durgadas Uike, Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, and senior ministers from the Cabinet and several ruling party MLAs who sat alongside ordinary citizens. Yoga guru Ramdev, who conducted the Vedic wedding rituals for all the couples, called Yadav “the first Chief Minister to present such an example”. Read more