Mumbai: A National Green Tribunal (NGT)-mandated joint committee recommended that the BMC pay a penalty of Rs 5 lakh per month per inlet if it violates its new action plan to prevent untreated sewage from entering Powai lake. The recommendation formed part of the joint committee report submitted to the NGT, which is hearing a case on the continued discharge of untreated sewage into the lake. Following an NGT ruling in a petition by Vanashakti in 2021, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued several directions to the BMC to stop sewage inflow, which were not complied with.The fresh case began when Powai resident Dr Rakesh Bakshi sent a letter-petition to the tribunal in March 2025 highlighting the lake’s condition. The NGT principal bench took suo motu cognisance of the letter, constituted a joint committee of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), MPCB, and the Maharashtra State Wetland Authority, and transferred the matter to the western zone bench at Pune. Parallel campaigns to save the lake were mounted by NatConnect Foundation and the BMC-appointed advanced local management (ALM) committee.The 210-hectare wetland is listed in the National Wetland Inventory and was ground-truthed by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. NatConnect also escalated the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office with a request to accord Ramsar site status. The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change referred the representation to the State Wetland Authority. According to the joint committee, Powai lake continued to receive about 18 million litres per day of untreated sewage through 19 culverts and two drains. MPCB directed the BMC in 2021 and subsequently to divert sewage to treatment plants, but the problem persisted. The committee asked the tribunal to order compensation of Rs 5 lakh per month per inlet, applicable from Feb 2020, for any continuing discharge of untreated sewage. In response, the BMC outlined steps including laying sewer lines, installing interceptors to collect sewage before it reached the lake and setting up an 8 MLD sewage treatment plant at the abandoned Powai pumping station.Other inflows were to be diverted to Bhandup and Mithi river treatment plants. The committee noted ground-level work had not yet begun and the tender process was still under way. Short-term BMC measures included removal of water hyacinth, installation of aerators, and deployment of real-time dissolved oxygen monitors. The committee recommended the BMC start in-situ treatment at all sewage entry points using microbial dosing and drain-based pollution reduction systems until long-term infrastructure became operational.It advised removal of silt from the lakebed after sewage diversion, strengthening aeration along the shoreline, and increasing monitoring of dissolved oxygen. It said scientific restoration should be carried out in consultation with research institutions once pollution sources were controlled. The report was signed by Nishchal C of the CPCB, Rakesh Dafade of the MPCB, and Dr Y B Sontakke of the Maharashtra State Wetland Authority.The NGT bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh (judicial member) and Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee (expert member) noted that the BMC had not filed its response to the tribunal’s notice dated Sept 19, 2025. The civic body was given two more weeks to submit its reply. The next hearing is scheduled for Feb 12, 2026.

HUBBALI: A newlywed couple were forced to attend their own wedding reception virtually after nationwide flight disruptions left them stranded in Bhubaneswar, over a thousand kilometres from their venue in Hubballi, news agency PTI reported.Megha Ksheerasagar and Sangam Das, software engineers based in Bengaluru, were scheduled to travel for their reception on 3 December.

But their IndiGo flight — delayed repeatedly from the morning of 2 December — was eventually cancelled as the airline’s ongoing operational crisis triggered massive disruptions across the country.With guests already arriving and the venue decorated, the couple appeared on a large screen at the reception hall through a video call. The event went ahead with the bride’s parents representing the newlyweds in person at Gujarat Bhavan, Hubballi.The couple had married on 23 November in Bhubaneswar and had booked tickets on the Bhubaneswar–Bengaluru–Hubballi route. Several relatives had also booked connections via Mumbai. All of those flights were either delayed for hours or cancelled.“My daughter’s wedding happened on November 23 and we had organised a reception at our native place in Hubballi for people here. The flight kept getting delayed and at the last moment, at around 4 am, it got cancelled,” the bride’s father, Anil Kumar Ksheerasagar, told PTI.“Now what could we do after that. We had to come up with some solution. Then I decided to do the reception online. I immediately arranged for a screen and asked my daughter and son-in-law to join the reception online,” he said.He urged the Union government to step in to ease the crisis.“What the problem with IndiGo is, we don’t know. My daughter and son-in-law were supposed to come via an IndiGo flight but that got cancelled. IndiGo alone can’t be blamed. The government must understand that it is in case of emergencies that people prefer flights. Some measures need to be taken to resolve this issue,” he said.“When the PM’s flight gets cancelled, he is taken by helicopter. Why is the same not done for us, the common people. We also have emergencies, don’t we. The government must think of this, and if they ignore public woes, they should remember that we are also VIPs because we pay tax.”Relatives had travelled from cities including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bagalkote, Davangere and Belagavi. With no way for the couple to reach Hubballi, the bride’s parents performed the rituals while the couple, dressed for the occasion in Bhubaneswar, interacted with guests online.“I didn’t know what to do as relatives and guests had come from so many places. I was stressed, but then I quickly decided to do it online,” Ksheerasagar said.The incident is among several stories emerging as IndiGo’s disruptions — triggered largely by crew shortages — continue to upend travel plans across India.

England and Australia clashed fiercely in the second Ashes Test at Brisbane’s Gabba on December 4, 2025, under pink-ball lights, with the hosts trailing by 42 runs at 292 for five after 56.4 overs on Day 2. Joe Root‘s gritty 138 anchored England’s first innings total of 334, recovering from an early collapse to 5 for two, setting a challenging platform in this day-night encounter. Brydon Carse‘s three wickets, including a pivotal blow, sparked England’s late fightback as Australia raced at 5.15 runs per over.​

Will Jacks pulls off a sensational grab to get Steve Smith out on Day 2

Will Jacks produced a moment of magic on Day 2, diving full length at deep backward square to pouch a one-handed screamer off Carse, dismissing Steven Smith for 61 off 85 balls in the 56.4 over. The short ball cramped Smith, forcing an awkward pull that floated flat towards Jacks, positioned 25 meters from the rope; his acrobatic leap to the right sealed a stunning catch, leaving Australia wobbling at 292 for five just before drinks.

Smith’s knock, featuring five fours and two sixes, had steadied the chase alongside Marnus Labuschagne‘s 65, but Jacks’ athleticism, his first major fielding highlight in Tests since 2022, shifted momentum dramatically in Session 3.​

Here’s the video:

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— j. (@was_jash82) December 5, 2025

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Here’s why Grace Hayden thanked Joe Root for his hundred in Gabba Test

England’s late surge ignites Gabba drama

Australia dominated early on Day 2, surging to 50 in 10 overs through Travis Head‘s 33 and Jake Weatherald‘s explosive 72, reaching 100 by the 17th over with Weatherald’s fifty off 45 balls. Post-lunch, Labuschagne and Smith rebuilt with a 50-run stand, pushing to 200 by the 37th over before Ben Stokes removed Labuschagne, caught behind for 65; Cameron Green‘s brisk 45 then lifted Australia to 250 in 49.3 overs, his 50-run alliance with Smith threatening England’s lead.​

The final session turned chaotic as England struck twice in quick succession: Green fell to Carse for 45 at 291 for four, followed immediately by Smith’s end via Jacks’ brilliance, collapsing the innings before drinks with Australia at 292 for five. Carse’s figures read 3 for 97 off 12.4 overs, his short-pitched aggression dismantling the middle order after Jofra Archer‘s earlier lbw of Weatherald.

Also WATCH: Jofra Archer’s brutal toe-crushing yorker sends Jake Weatherald packing on Day 2 of the Pink-Ball Test

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called on head coach Gautam Gambhir to provide Washington Sundar with clear direction ahead of the third and final ODI against South Africa in Vizag. The three-match series has seen Sundar struggle to make any meaningful impact, raising fresh concerns over how the team management intends to use him. Sundar has been shuffled around the batting order in the first two games, walking in at No.5 in the series opener before being pushed down to No.6 in the second match. The uncertainty has been reflected in his returns: scores of 13 and 1, and a combined seven overs with the ball, without a wicket. His limited involvement has added to the debate surrounding his place in the XI.

Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, said Sundar needs to be handled as a primary bowler who can contribute with the bat, not the other way around. “Once you decide to play Washington Sundar, you must treat him as a bowler who can bat,” Ashwin said. “He needs to get his full set of overs. Only then will he think like a bowler who can bat. If he’s just batting and bowling a few overs, he’ll keep searching for who he is. Don’t leave him in that space. Give him proper role clarity.” Ashwin also highlighted India’s lack of finishing power with the bat. Despite being 284 for 4 after 40 overs in the second ODI, India ended with only 358. He questioned whether the team might be better served with a fast-bowling all-rounder such as Nitish Kumar Reddy in Sundar’s place. “India haven’t finished well in both games,” he said. “Without someone like Hardik Pandya, why wasn’t a powerful finisher like Nitish Kumar Reddy tried? I’m not sure if they see Rishabh Pant as a finisher. India are missing that punch at the end. Should a fast-bowling all-rounder play instead of a spinning one?” Ashwin added that, with India’s bowling resources depleted, this team may regularly need an extra 30–40 runs to feel safe, particularly if Jasprit Bumrah is not available. “We’ve lost many experienced bowlers in Tests and white-ball cricket,” he said. “The X-factor is Bumrah. If he isn’t a full-time part of the squad, India must score 30 to 40 extra every match.

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ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, has recently captured striking new observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS. In November 2025, the spacecraft employed five of its scientific instruments to study the comet, collecting crucial information about its activity, structure, and composition. These measurements are helping scientists understand the behaviour and characteristics of this interstellar visitor. Alongside these instruments, Juice’s Navigation Camera, NavCam, provided an initial visual glimpse of the comet, revealing its shape and surface features. This early imagery gives researchers a preliminary view and helps guide expectations for the more detailed data collected by the other instruments. Juice’s observations mark an exciting step in studying distant comets.

Comet 3I/ATLAS captured in stunning detail by Juice’s navigation camera

Juice was originally designed to explore Jupiter’s icy moons, with its NavCam intended primarily for navigation rather than high-resolution scientific imaging. However, the spacecraft turned its attention to Comet 3I/ATLAS in November 2025, capturing images and preliminary data. The observation was made in the days leading up to Juice’s closest approach to the comet, which occurred on 4 November at a distance of approximately 66 million kilometres.Although the detailed measurements from Juice’s scientific instruments will not reach Earth until February 2026, the mission team was able to extract a quarter of a single NavCam image to provide an early look at the comet. This preview revealed the comet clearly, surrounded by signs of activity, much to the surprise and excitement of the scientists. The NavCam image shows the comet with a glowing halo of gas, known as its coma, which is a key indicator of cometary activity. There is also evidence of two distinct tails. The plasma tail, composed of electrically charged gas, extends towards the top of the frame, while a fainter dust tail, made of tiny solid particles, stretches to the lower left. These features are typical of comets as they heat up when approaching the Sun, releasing gas and dust into space.This observation occurred shortly after the comet’s closest approach to the Sun, meaning 3I/ATLAS was in a highly active state. Scientists anticipate that the data from Juice’s scientific instruments will reveal these processes in even greater detail, including the composition and behaviour of the cometary material.

Juice’s five scientific instruments and data transmission challenges

Juice is equipped with five instruments that were activated to study 3I/ATLAS:

These instruments will provide a comprehensive dataset, including images, spectrometry readings, and particle analysis, giving scientists new insight into how Comet 3I/ATLAS behaves as it travels through the inner Solar System.Due to Juice’s current orientation, its main high-gain antenna is being used as a heat shield to protect it from the Sun. As a result, the spacecraft must rely on its smaller medium-gain antenna to transmit data back to Earth. This limitation significantly reduces the transmission rate, which is why the full dataset from the scientific instruments will only arrive on 18 and 20 February 2026.

Early NavCam observations reveal comet activity and Juice’s scientific versatility

Despite the limited preview from the NavCam image, scientists are already excited by the visible signs of activity in Comet 3I/ATLAS. The presence of both plasma and dust tails, along with the bright coma, indicates a dynamically active comet. When the full scientific data arrives, researchers expect to gain unprecedented detail about the comet’s composition, outgassing behaviour, and interaction with the solar wind.Juice’s observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS demonstrate the spacecraft’s versatility, showing that even instruments designed for navigation can provide valuable scientific insights. These early findings promise to deepen our understanding of comets and the complex processes that shape their behaviour.Also Read | ESA discovers butterfly-shaped crater on Mars revealing impact, volcanic activity, and possible water

Silver soars to a record high, Indians rush to cash in!The India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA) estimates that about 100 tonnes of old silver were sold in just one week, a volume that typically takes several months to surface. Under normal circumstances, the domestic market receives only 10–15 tonnes of old silver in an entire month.The sudden spike in supply has been driven by soaring prices, which touched a record Rs 1,78,684 per kilogram on Wednesday, according to IBJA’s retail data. Although prices eased slightly to Rs 1,75,730 on Thursday, they remain nearly 20% higher than recent lows, prompting many families to turn metal into cash.IBJA national secretary Surendra Mehta said profit-taking has played a major role, alongside rising household needs during the festive period. He added that the wedding season and holiday travel have pushed up the need for liquidity, leading many people to sell off their reserves. Most of the inflow comprises scrap silverware and utensil pieces, according to him.“During Diwali and Dhanteras, silver hit Rs 1.78 lakh per kilo, then slipped to Rs 1.49 lakh. Now that prices are rallying again, people are offloading the metal to generate cash,” Mehta told ET.Silver has been a star performer this year , with its price more than doubling from Rs 86,005 per kg in 2024, overshadowing returns from other asset classes. Gold, in contrast, has seen a gain of roughly 60% during the same period. Analysts expect the appetite to book profits to strengthen further if prices continue their climb, with many seeing the Rs 2 lakh-per-kg milestone within reach.Naveent Damani, head of commodities research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, believes the current uptrend is far from over as the supply gap widens. He forecasts silver to touch Rs 2 lakh per kg in the first quarter of 2026 and Rs 2.4 lakh by the end of next year, adding that dollar-denominated prices could move up to $75 an ounce, ET reported.Behind the price rally is a persistent shortage. Data from the Washington-based Silver Institute shows that global demand has outpaced supply every year since 2020. Most of the white metal is not mined directly but produced as a by-product of gold, lead or zinc mining, which limits the possibility of sudden expansion in output.For 2025, mined silver production has been flat at 813 million ounces. Higher contributions from Mexico and Russia have been offset by reduced output in Peru and Indonesia. Primary silver production in 2025 is expected to increase by only 3 million ounces to 227 million ounces, while total supply, including recycled silver, is projected at 1.022 billion ounces. That falls short of the estimated 1.117 billion ounces of global demand, leaving the silver market in a continued deficit.