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1.The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
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2.Global crude oil prices Wednesday plunged sharply up to 20 per cent, after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran that includes a pledge to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
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3.India Wednesday advised its nationals in Iran to expeditiously exit the country using routes suggested by its mission in Tehran in light of the recent developments.
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4.Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai, passed away Wednesday at the age of 94.
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5.Over 6.1 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise, as Assam, Kerala and Puducherry head to the Assembly polls in a single-phase voting schedule Thursday.
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6.The Union Cabinet is learnt to have cleared Wednesday the draft bill for amendments to the Women's Reservation Act that will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 with 273 reserved for women. and its implementation in the 2029 general elections.
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7.Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday launched 36 industrial projects worth Rs 40,811 crore, which are expected to generate 59,000 jobs, officials said.
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8.The second phase of inventory of Srimandir’s Ratna Bhandar commenced Wednesday, offi cials said.
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9. Sasmit Patra, a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has resigned as the party’s parliamentary leader in the Upper House.
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10.A new study has found high levels of lead contamination in soil near battery recycling units across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns about public health and environmental safety.
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11.President Donald Trump welcomes NATO chief Mark Rutte to the White House Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed US relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.
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12.Investors' wealth swelled by Rs 16.25 lakh crore Wednesday, mirroring a sharp rally in the stock market where the BSE Sensex jumped nearly 4 per cent, after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire.
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13.Indian scheduled commercial banks' gross non-performing assets (NPAs) ratio declined further to 2 per cent in December 2025, the Reserve Bank said Wednesday.
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14.The Calcutta High Court Wednesday granted conditional bail to multi-crore Saradha ponzi scam accused Sudipta Sen in the last two of the over 300 criminal cases against him, paving the way for his release from jail after 13 years.
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15.The Bombay High Court Wednesday quashed the Election Commission of India's notification for the byelection to Ponda Assembly seat in Goa a day ahead of polling, citing violation of the Representation of the People Act as the legislature's term is set to expire in less than a year.