Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said it detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 17 naval vessels operating around the island as of 6 a.m. local time, during large-scale drills by China’s People’s Liberation Army. Of the aircraft, 35 crossed the median line into Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), the ministry added, and it monitored and responded to the activity. The exercises, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” involve joint Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force units and have raised concerns about regional stability and risks to civilian air and sea traffic. 

Actor and politician Divya Spandana, known as Ramya, reacted on social media to a remark made by the Supreme Court during a hearing on stray dog attacks. The court said it is hard to judge “what mood a dog is in the morning” and that this creates a risk of attacks. Referring to the comment, Ramya wrote, “Put all men in jail?” to question how fear should be applied in public policy. Her post was widely shared online. The hearing is part of a case on how states handle rising cases of stray dog bites and the safety of people in public places, especially children and the elderly. (PC: HT)

A male hippopotamus at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata has stayed in its water enclosure for the past 14 days during a cold wave. Zoo officials said the young hippo stopped leaving the pool around Christmas and is eating very little. Vets have tried to draw it out with food, but it returns to the water after feeding. The animal usually comes out before dusk. The hippo arrived from Odisha’s Nandankanan Zoo in September 2024 with a mate, which died days later. Officials are checking if illness or stress after the loss is causing the behaviour. The enclosure is now closed to visitors. (PC: BBC)

Police in Faridabad have registered a case after a 17-year-old national-level shooter accused her coach of sexual assault and threats. The FIR was filed on a complaint from the girl’s mother. The incident is alleged to have taken place on December 16 after a shooting event in south Delhi. The coach had asked the athlete to meet him at a hotel in Surajkund to review her performance. Police said she was pressured to go to his room, where the assault allegedly occurred. The case has been filed under the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Teams are collecting CCTV footage and recording witness statements. (PC: HT)

An encounter has broken out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, officials said on Wednesday. Security personnel launched a search operation in the Billawar area after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants. Three terrorists linked to the banned group Jaish-e-Mohammed are believed to be hiding and are currently engaged with forces in the forests of Kamadh Nullah. Fire was exchanged after the militants opened fire on the search team, prompting retaliation by the troops. Reinforcements have been sent to the site as the operation continues. (PC: HT)

Security forces have come into contact with militants linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed in the forest near Kamadh Nullah in Kathua district, officials said. The encounter began on Wednesday evening in Kahog village after security teams received information about the presence of two to three suspected militants. Forces from the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Kathua have been searching the area and are engaged with the hiding suspects. Reinforcements have been sent to the scene to support the ongoing operation. Police and army units continue to tighten the cordon around the area. No casualties have been confirmed so far. (PC: HT)

The Election Commission (EC) has explained that a Status Information Report (SIR) hearing notice linked to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s voter registration in West Bengal resulted from a technical discrepancy—a reported age mismatch in his enumeration form during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Officials stressed that all voters are equal and that senior citizens over 85 like Sen will not be required to physically attend hearings; corrections can be made at their residence. The notice triggered political backlash, with the Trinamool Congress calling it a “shameful farce,” a claim the EC has rejected. (PC: The Telegraph)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday continued hearing petitions on the stray dog issue and questioned why arguments focus only on dogs. The court asked if the lives of other animals like chickens and goats also matter. Lawyers for victims said people were suffering from dog attacks and called for stronger action, including no-dog zones in housing areas. An animal rights lawyer opposed mass removal and said global models rely on capture, sterilise, vaccinate and release. The court said its earlier order was limited to institutional areas such as schools and hospitals and asked why stray dogs should be allowed there. The Solicitor General said housing societies should decide the issue by majority. (PC: India Today)

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi carried out a late-night demolition drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque close to Turkman Gate on Wednesday. The action followed a Delhi High Court order that asked the MCD, the Ministry of Urban Development and the Delhi Waqf Board to file replies on the dispute. The court said the matter needed consideration and listed the case for hearing on April 22. Videos shared by local residents showed bulldozers and earth-movers removing parts of structures near the century-old mosque. Police were deployed at the site and tear gas was used to control the crowd, officials said. No official estimate of damage was released. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday is hearing a case on stray dogs and cattle, raising concerns over safety on highways and public places. A three-judge bench says it will listen to both supporters and critics in the matter. The court is told that only 10 states have filed compliance affidavits so far. The amicus curiae says many filings do not give full data on shelters or on how stray cattle are being moved. It is reported that 2,691 cattle have been shifted to gaushalas, but risky highway stretches are not listed. The bench also refers to recent accidents involving judges due to stray cattle and asks authorities to explain gaps in enforcement. (PC: India Today)