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NEW DELHI: The Luthra brothers, owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, sought transit anticipatory bail in Delhi, maintaining their Thailand trip was work-related even as their Goa beach shack faces demolition after a nightclub fire that killed 25 people. Meanwhile, the civil aviation ministry moved to curb passenger inconvenience by deploying a special team to monitor IndiGo’s operations following widespread delays and cancellations. West Bengal also saw fresh controversy, with Sandeshkhali attack witness Bholanath Ghosh critically injured in a road accident that killed his son and driver – an incident his family alleges was a conspiracy to silence him.Political tensions rose after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined the Veer Savarkar Award, accusing organisers of announcing his name without consent, a claim they deny. On the sports front, India continued its strong run in international cricket rankings, with Virat Kohli climbing to the No. 2 spot in ODIs- just behind Rohit Sharma- following a standout series against South Africa. Significant ranking boosts for KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav further highlighted India’s dominance across formats.
The Luthra brothers – owners of Birch by Romeo Lane – have applied for transit anticipatory bail in Delhi, asserting that their trip to Thailand was work-related and that they are willing to cooperate with investigators. At the same time, authorities in Goa have ordered the demolition of their beach shack after a massive fire at their nightclub claimed 25 lives.Read full story
Following widespread flight disruptions that left numerous passengers stranded, the civil aviation ministry has formed a dedicated monitoring team to keep a close watch on IndiGo’s operations. The move is intended to help reduce the inconvenience caused by major delays and cancellations.Read full story
A key witness in the Sandeshkhali attack case, Bholanath Ghosh, was severely injured after a truck rammed into his car, killing his son and driver. His family claims the crash was a planned attempt to silence him, allegedly orchestrated by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is presently in jail. The accident happened while Ghosh was on his way to court.Read full story
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has refused the Veer Savarkar Award, criticising the organisers for publicly declaring his name without seeking his approval. Tharoor said he first heard about the award through media reports and had neither been informed nor agreed to accept it. HRDS India, however, maintains that they had notified him and even met him in person to invite him.Read full story
India’s star batter Virat Kohli has moved up to the No. 2 spot in the ODI rankings, narrowing the gap with top-ranked Rohit Sharma after an impressive run against South Africa. Several other Indian players, including KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav, also made notable gains across formats in the latest ICC rankings, underscoring India’s strong performance on the global stage.Read full story
With the IPL 2026 mini auction approaching, several uncapped Indian cricketers are suddenly in the spotlight. Mini auctions often produce surprise millionaires, and with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26 being held just before the auction, this year’s timing has given domestic players the perfect stage to impress IPL scouts. Based on their SMAT performances, here are five uncapped players who could attract strong bids. Auqib Nabi Dar (Jammu and Kashmir) Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in domestic cricket. The 29-year-old has taken 15 wickets in seven matches in Elite Group B, maintaining an economy of 7.41. Known for swinging the new ball and backed by an excellent first-class record of 125 wickets in 36 matches, Nabi has reportedly been called for trials by several IPL franchises. With teams actively searching for quality Indian pacers, he may turn out to be one of the most sought-after uncapped bowlers at the auction.
Kartik Sharma (Rajasthan) Rajasthan have had a standout SMAT season, qualifying for the knockouts from Elite Group D ahead of major domestic sides like Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Nineteen-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma has played a key role in this run. Kartik has scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate above 160, making important middle-order contributions. His ability to keep wickets and finish games late could make him a valuable two-in-one option for teams needing both roles covered. Tushar Raheja (Tamil Nadu) Tamil Nadu’s Tushar Raheja is another uncapped wicketkeeper-batter who has caught the eye. The left-hander has scored 151 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 164 while opening the batting in SMAT 2025/26. He also excelled in the 2025 Tamil Nadu Premier League, where he ended as the tournament’s top scorer with a strike rate of 185. Given the shortage of explosive Indian wicketkeepers this year, Raheja is expected to be high on several teams’ lists. Anmolpreet Singh (Punjab) At 27, Anmolpreet Singh has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket for Punjab, though he has never received the hype enjoyed by teammates like Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera or Ramandeep Singh. This season may change that. Anmolpreet has scored 241 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 172, second only to Abhishek — the world’s No. 1 T20 batter — among Punjab’s run scorers. He has had short IPL stints with SRH and MI before, but he now enters the IPL 2026 auction as one of the most in-form uncapped Indian batters. Ashok Sharma (Rajasthan) Rajasthan’s 23-year-old pacer Ashok Sharma has finished the league stage of SMAT 2025/26 as the top wicket-taker, grabbing 19 wickets in seven matches. His ability to hit speeds close to 140 kmph makes him an attractive option for teams craving Indian fast-bowling depth. Ashok has also been part of IPL squads earlier, having been picked by Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, which may further boost his chances of being signed again.
Gold prices showed a mixed trend on Wednesday, with domestic futures inching up even as international rates dipped. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, February gold futures rose by Rs 173 to Rs 1,30,280 per 10 grams, while Comex gold for the same month traded marginally lower at $4,234.3 an ounce.Gold price in your city today:
In the national capital, 22K gold is currently priced at Rs 11,960 per gram, while 24K gold is selling at Rs 13,046 per gram.
Mumbai is seeing 22K gold at Rs 11,945 per gram, and 24K gold available at Rs 13,031 per gram.
Bengaluru markets list 22K gold at Rs 11,945 per gram, whereas 24K gold is priced at Rs 13,031 per gram.
Chennai continues to record among the highest figures, with 22K gold marked at Rs 12,030 per gram and 24K gold at Rs 13,124 per gram.
In Kolkata, 22K gold is being sold at Rs 11,945 per gram, while 24K gold is available at Rs 13,031 per gram.
In Hyderabad, 22K gold is priced at Rs 11,945 per gram, and 24K gold at Rs 13,031 per gram.
Ahmedabad buyers are paying Rs 11,950 per gram for 22K gold and Rs 13,036 per gram for 24K gold.
Jaipur has 22K gold priced at Rs 11,960 per gram, and 24K gold tagged at Rs 13,046 per gram.
In Bhubaneswar, 22K gold stands at Rs 11,945 per gram, while 24K gold is quoted at Rs 13,031 per gram.
Kanpur’s market shows 22K gold at Rs 11,960 per gram, with 24K gold selling for Rs 13,046 per gram.
Following the recent policy change by the Trump administration of mandatory social-media screening (from Dec 15) of all applicants for H-1B and H-4 visas (spouse and dependent children of the H-1B visa holder) – these individuals are facing a fresh disruption.Immigration attorneys are reporting that interview slots at US consulates scheduled for mid to end Dec 2025 have been cancelled, including those in India such as at the Hyderabad and Chennai consulates. The interviews have been deferred by several months – in many instances these have been pushed to March next year.
Illustrating the woes of their clients, immigration attorneys told TOI that some were those who are now stranded are those taking up new jobs, others were on a visit to India but needed stamping –they were on a brief visit to attend a wedding, or to drop off their parents who typically return to India during the winter season. TOI in its edition of Dec 5, had covered the new policy announced by the US Department of State (DoS) that all H-1B workers and their H-4 dependents will undergo mandatory social-media screening from Dec 15. Applicants were required to switch their social-media accounts to “public” settings to enable scrutiny.The fall out – consulates reportedly plan to interview fewer applicants each day, the reduced capacity is cited as the main reason for widespread cancellation of existing appointments, said an immigration attorney.Immigration law firms are issuing alerts that any foreign national planning international travel should not proceed unless it is urgent. In addition, instances of revocation of visas of those already in the US, based on social media posts are also sporadically surfacing.It may be recalled that on May 27, the DoS had paused the scheduling of new interviews for student and exchange-visitor visas (F, M, J categories). This was while DoS reviewed and updated its social-media and online-presence screening for international students. The freeze was lifted in June, but under stricter social media vetting guidelines.Also Read: US to scan social media of all H-1B, H-4 visa applicants from December 15For H-1Bs and their family members who now come under social media vetting guidelines, no freeze has been announced. But pushing an interview slot by several months, has the same fall out, state immigration attorneys.
Elon Musk was recently asked if he believes in God. In an interview with Katie Miller on her podcast this week, the Tesla CEO said he believes “this universe came from something. People have different labels.” “Who do you look up to the most?,” asked Miller. To this, Musk replied saying “The Creator”. “What’s your position on God?,” Miller further stressed. The tech billionaire responded “God is the Creator.”
Miller’s next question was “You don’t believe in God though, do you?”. This time, Elon Musk said “Well, I believe this universe came from something. People have different labels.”
During the same interview, Elon Musk was asked whom he considers the funniest person he knows. Musk responded saying:“President Trump is the funniest person I know in real life. He’s got a great sense of humor. He’s naturally funny. It’s effortless. When he had Mamdani in the office and he told Mamdani to call him a fascist, that was awesome”.
Elon Musk spoke to Miller on a range of topics, including the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – Trump administration’s cost-cutting department then led by Musk. He said that DOGE was “somewhat successful’ in its mission when asked about DOGE’s success. “We were a little bit successful,” he said, adding “We were somewhat successful.”During the conversation, Musk said that “Department of Government Efficiency” was “a made-up name” that was “based on internet suggestions”.Talking about SpaceX Starship and his ambitious Mars Mission, Elon Musk said “It needs to be sustainably multi-planetary, so not just visiting, but actually multi-planetary in the sense that if you have planetary redundancy, so if there were to be a catastrophe on one of the planets, the other planet would survive. Starship is capable of doing that for the first time in history, and no AI was used to create it.”
In a pulsating ILT20 2025-26 encounter on December 9 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Desert Vipers edged out MI Emirates by a solitary run in the ninth match, preserving their unbeaten streak with a fourth straight victory. Batting first, Vipers posted 159/4 in 20 overs, powered by Max Holden‘s gritty 42 off 37 and Fakhar Zaman‘s fluent 35 off 31, despite Andries Gous retiring hurt early at 21 off 15. MI Emirates, chasing 160, faltered dramatically to finish at 158/9, with David Payne‘s incisive 4/29 proving decisive in the death overs.
The game’s defining moment arrived at 13.5 overs when Shimron Hetmyer pulled off a breathtaking diving catch to dismiss Nicholas Pooran off Sam Curran, shifting momentum decisively. Pooran, on 31 off 29 with four boundaries, mistimed a short-of-length delivery from Curran, dragging it flat and hard towards deep midwicket.
Hetmyer, patrolling the boundary, sprinted leftward before launching into a full-length horizontal dive, pouching the screamer cleanly to leave MI Emirates at 98/3. This athletic gem, likened to a hawk snaring prey, not only ended a threatening 42-run stand between Pooran and Tom Banton but ignited Vipers’ defense.
That’s a screamerrrrrrrr! 🤯🔥
It could only take a tremendous catch to dismiss a high-flying Pooran. 🙌#DPWorldILT20 #AllInForCricket #WhereTheWorldPlays pic.twitter.com/2T06qgEKWi
— International League T20 (@ILT20Official) December 9, 2025
Vipers’ innings gained traction in the powerplay, racing to 51/0 before Gous’ retirement hurt, with a 50-run opening stand in 36 balls fueling early momentum. Holden’s anchoring knock included a tactical twist when, after Pooran controversially declined a stumping chance off Rashid Khan, Vipers retired him out at 15.6 overs (118/2), ushering in Hetmyer (15 off 9, with a six) and Dan Lawrence (15* off 8) for a crucial late surge of 41 runs in the final four overs to set 160.
Chasing, MI Emirates flew to 49/1 in the powerplay, led by Muhammad Waseem‘s 24 and Banton’s aggressive 34 off 29, crossing 50 in 6.1 overs. Post-Hetmyer’s stunner, wickets tumbled: Payne removed Banton (101/4), Kieron Pollard (23 off 13, 144/7), and more in a stellar 19th over yielding three scalps for one run. Tajinder Singh‘s brisk 17 off 7 (two sixes) lifted them to 150/7 by 19.4 overs, but Rashid Khan‘s valiant 13* off 8 (six and four) fell short by one run on the final ball, sealed by Vriitya Aravind‘s sharp run-out. Payne earned Player of the Match for dismantling the chase.
This one-run heist atop the table cements Vipers’ dominance, while MI Emirates rue squandered starts in a contest blending athleticism, strategy, and sheer drama.
Also READ: ILT20 Season 4: Complete list of presenters and commentators – From Grace Hayden to Mohammad Kaif
NEW DELHI: Directorate General of Civil Aviation has summoned IndiGo’s chief executive for an emergency meeting in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, as the government intensifies its response to the airline’s sprawling operational breakdown that has disrupted travel nationwide. The DGCA has ordered Pieter Elbers to appear at 3pm, along with senior officials across departments, to present “comprehensive data and updates” on the ongoing crisis. It follows days of mass cancellations, soaring complaints from passengers and multiple rounds of government intervention.
The directive was issued alongside a formal inspection order, dated 10 December, instructing DGCA officers to carry out immediate on-site assessments at 11 airports. The regulator said the checks must be completed within two to three days, with reports submitted to its headquarters within 24 hours. Officers have been told to examine safety and operational readiness, congestion inside terminals, queue management, staffing adequacy, manning of 24×7 help desks, communication of delays and cancellations, and even basic amenities such as drinking water. Additional checks include assistance for elderly and vulnerable passengers, seating capacity in holding areas, airline management presence, hygiene standards, housekeeping deployment and baggage-handling backlogs. “Interaction with passengers to obtain direct feedback” has also been mandated.IndiGo’s leadership has been asked to account for its handling of the disruption across six major areas: flight restoration, pilot and crew recruitment, cancellation refunds, baggage return, passenger communication and rerouting policies, as per the order.The summons follows another day of heavy cancellations. On Wednesday alone, the carrier scrapped 61 flights from Bengaluru, according to PTI, despite Elbers saying earlier this week that operations were “back on the feet” and “stable”. On Tuesday, more than 460 flights were cancelled across six metros after the government slashed IndiGo’s winter schedule by 10 per cent—around 220 daily flights—following a previous 5 per cent cut ordered by the DGCA.Elbers has said “lakhs of customers” have received full refunds but offered no figures and declined to address compensation for last-minute cancellations or severe delays. Under the passenger charter, airlines are required to compensate travellers automatically in certain situations.Since December 2, IndiGo has cancelled thousands of flights nationwide after failing to adjust operations to tighter safety regulations. The fallout has caused major bottlenecks at airports, sent airfares soaring on other carriers and triggered widespread complaints over poor communication, long queues and baggage chaos. The DGCA has already issued show-cause notices to Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidro Proqueras, who is also the airline’s Accountable Manager, while the Civil Aviation Ministry has capped fares and ordered flight curtailment to “stabilise the airline’s operations”.
NEW DELHI: India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya says maintaining a positive mindset has enabled him to return to the field “stronger, bigger and better” after injury setbacks that triggered moments of self-doubt. His comeback from a near two-month break due to a left quadriceps injury played a crucial role in India’s commanding 101-run victory over South Africa in the opening T20I on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 32-year-old marked his return in style, smashing an unbeaten 28-ball 59 and taking 1/16, showcasing full recovery from the injury he picked up during the Asia Cup.
“My mindset was really about coming back stronger, bigger, better. Injuries test you mentally and at the same point in time, it kind of puts a lot of doubts… and a lot of credit to the loved ones,” Pandya said in a video posted on bcci.tv.“I’ve stood strong, I’ve done a lot of things with grace and that has helped me to become even more confident, back myself and really trust my skillset… I really believe in myself as a player. I’ve always believed that if you don’t believe in yourself, how would others believe you,” added Pandya, who is set to play a key role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign in two months.He described himself as someone who relies on inner confidence and remains unaffected by outside opinions.“I think I have been a very honest, very real person in life as well, which has helped me a lot. I don’t really sugarcoat a lot of things in my life. It’s never about the other person, it’s never about how others think or how others perceive. It’s always about how I feel inside.“Now, it’s time where Hardik Pandya wants to just play the sport, enjoy every second on the ground… and bigger and better will be the motto in my life.”Pandya also said he draws energy from the crowd, which fuels his desire to perform.“You should be a rockstar. You come, perform for 10 minutes and the crowd goes berserk, I think that has been the biggest motivation for me.”He famously won over a once-hostile Mumbai crowd—upset when he took over as Mumbai Indians captain in 2024 after moving from Gujarat Titans—following his heroic T20 World Cup performance in the Caribbean.“Life has thrown a lot of lemons at me, I’ve always thought I’ll make a lemonade,” he said. “Every time I walk in, I feel like all the crowd is just waiting… they’ve come for this moment to watch me bat.”
IndiGo, commanding approximately 65% of India’s domestic aviation sector, has cancelled over 5,000 flights this month.
Fresh trouble for IndiGo? India’s largest airline by market share, IndiGo, may be in for more trouble after a week which saw thousands of flights being cancelled. India’s competition watchdog is considering launching an investigation into IndiGo to determine whether the airline violated competition laws, particularly regarding misuse of its dominant position to limit services or enforce unreasonable terms on travellers, according to a senior government representative.IndiGo, commanding approximately 65% of India’s domestic aviation sector, has cancelled over 5,000 flights this month due to an acute shortage of crew members, stemming from its inability to implement new pilot rest regulations. This disruption has affected thousands of passengers at airports nationwide during peak travel period. The airline’s operational requirements called for 2,422 captains, but it only had 2,357 available.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ‘strong grounds’ for initiating an investigation, the official was quoted as saying by ET, whilst clarifying that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) remains at the helm of the broader government investigation into the IndiGo situation. The official indicated that the CCI is monitoring the situation closely and will soon decide whether to initiate an inquiry within its jurisdiction.Section 4 of the Competition Act prohibits a dominant enterprise from misusing its position by enforcing unjust or discriminatory conditions on goods or service transactions; or “limits or restricts” production or services; or subjects consumers to unfair or discriminatory conditions, amongst other provisions.
IndiGo issues
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo’s Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers and Chief Operating Officer Isidre Porqueras on Saturday, requesting their response within 24 hours. On Monday, they informed the regulatory authority that determining the precise causes of the network disruption was not feasible within such a brief period, considering the airline’s extensive and intricate operations. The executives requested additional time for their response, referencing DGCA regulations that permit a 15-day window to address a show-cause notice.The antitrust regulator holds the authority to initiate investigations independently or based on complaints received from stakeholders, other parties, or referrals from central or state governments.When the CCI evaluates a case and identifies preliminary evidence of anti-competitive conduct by an organisation, it instructs its director general to conduct a detailed investigation and provide a report for subsequent action. The matter is closed if no initial evidence is discovered.Previously, IndiGo faced CCI scrutiny over alleged anti-competitive conduct. However, the antitrust regulator dismissed two cases against the airline – one in 2015 by an individual regarding unfair passenger conditions, and another in 2016 by Air India concerning predatory recruitment practices.
