New Zealand surged to third in WTC 2025-27 standings after dominating West Indies in second Test. The Black Caps’ nine-wicket victory at Wellington’s Basin Reserve propelled them past India and Pakistan, tying Sri Lanka at 66.67% points percentage.​

New Zealand’s dominance seal an unassailable lead over West Indies

New Zealand claimed a commanding 1-0 lead in the three-match series against West Indies following the second Test’s emphatic win on December 14, 2025. West Indies batted first and folded for 205, with Shai Hope top-scoring on 47, before New Zealand declared at 278 for nine, powered by half-centuries from Devon Conway (60) and Mitchell Hay (61). In the decisive second innings, West Indies crumbled to 128 all out, as seamer Jacob Duffy claimed player-of-the-match honours with a fiery 5-38 spell at an economy of 2.19, while Michael Rae chipped in with three wickets. Chasing just 56, Conway (28*) and Kane Williamson (16*) steered New Zealand home effortlessly, losing only skipper Tom Latham early.​

The first Test at Christchurch ended in a gritty draw, highlighted by West Indies’ Justin Greaves‘ heroic 202 in the fourth innings to rescue his side from defeat. New Zealand’s bowlers, led by Duffy’s heroics, exposed West Indies’ batting frailties on a Basin Reserve pitch offering seam movement, marking a stark turnaround from the opener’s shared spoils.​

Also READ: Fans erupt as clinical New Zealand thrash West Indies in the second Test to take 1-0 lead

Updated WTC standings and top contenders

Australia lead the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 table unbeaten with five wins from five matches, boasting a perfect 100% points percentage and 60 points. South Africa hold second at 75% after three victories in four games, including a series triumph over India. New Zealand and Sri Lanka share third on 66.67% (16 points from two matches each: one win, one draw), ahead of Pakistan (50%, 12 points from two).​

India languish at 48.15% despite nine matches, while West Indies prop up the table at 4.76% from seven games (six losses, one draw). A win in the third Test (December 18-22 at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval) could vault New Zealand to second, bolstering their bid for another WTC final appearance. Australia and South Africa remain frontrunners, but the cycle’s competitiveness keeps the race wide open.

Also READ: West Indies on the back foot as New Zealand gains control with late strikes on Day 2 of Wellington Test

The data for this weather forecast has been sourced from AQI.in, providing residents with comprehensive information to plan their daily activities and weekly schedules accordingly.Mumbai is set for a bright and sunny day on December 13, 2025, with temperatures expected to reach a maximum of 29.3°C and a pleasant low of 22.6°C. This offers comfortable conditions for various outdoor activities.However, air quality remains a point of attention, as yesterday’s conditions were categorized as ‘poor’ with an AQI-IN of 135, primarily attributed to elevated PM2.5 and PM10 levels. While today’s clear skies may contribute to some dispersion of pollutants, sensitive individuals are advised to carry masks when venturing into traffic-heavy areas.The forecast for the upcoming week indicates a continuation of largely sunny and warm weather, with daily highs ranging between 29°C and 31°C, suggesting a potential stabilization of air quality and a respite from recent severe pollution levels.Mumbai residents are waking up to a refreshing morning, with temperatures starting at 23°C. These conditions are considered perfect for an early jog or a leisurely stroll along the city’s beaches.The day is projected to experience a steady warming trend. Temperatures are expected to peak at 29.3°C by the early afternoon hours.A gentle breeze, measured at 14.4 km/h, will accompany the daytime warmth. Humidity levels are moderate, recorded at 37%, which contributes to a dry and pleasant atmosphere throughout the day.The skies are forecasted to remain clear from morning until evening. There is zero chance of any rain or snow.As the sun prepares to set at 6:02 PM, temperatures will gradually begin to drop. This transition will lead to an evening that is comfortably cool for residents.

Air Quality Report

Air quality was a significant factor in Mumbai yesterday, prompting specific advisories.Yesterday’s air quality was categorized as ‘poor’ with an AQI-IN of 135.The primary pollutants contributing to this classification were identified as PM2.5, recorded at 70 µg/m³, and PM10, at 89 µg/m³. These elevated levels were likely a result of vehicular emissions and the lingering presence of pollution from preceding days.Additionally, carbon monoxide levels were noted as elevated, reaching 262 µg/m³.Despite the sunny weather anticipated for today, which could assist in dispersing some pollutants, a substantial improvement in the overall air quality index is not expected. This is particularly true for congested urban areas.Yesterday, Mumbai experienced “poor” air quality with an AQI-IN of 135.Sensitive individuals, such as those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, are strongly advised to limit their prolonged exposure to outdoor environments. When planning to be in areas with heavy traffic, especially in central or industrial zones, wearing a mask is considered advisable due to the lingering pollution.For those looking to engage in outdoor activities, the early morning and late evening periods are highlighted as ideal. During these times, the air is relatively cooler and generally less polluted.Given the sunny and dry conditions, essential items for the afternoon include sunglasses and sunscreen. Fitness enthusiasts are encouraged to utilize this favorable weather to visit local parks or the beach.

Upcoming Week’s Forecast

The weather outlook for the upcoming week in Mumbai indicates a continuation of largely sunny and warm conditions. Daytime high temperatures are expected to consistently hover between 29°C and 31°C.Nights throughout the week will remain cool, with low temperatures projected to fall between 22°C and 24°C. Wind speeds are forecasted to range from 13.3 km/h to 18.7 km/h, ensuring a consistent breezy feel across the city.No rain or any significant weather changes are currently anticipated for the period. This consistent forecast makes it an excellent time for planning various outdoor activities and engagements.Specifically, December 17 and 18 are predicted to be the warmest days of the week, with temperatures potentially reaching 31°C. Following these warmer days, December 19 is expected to see a slight dip in temperature, settling at 29.7°C.

Air Quality Trends

A bonus insight from the data provides additional context regarding recent air quality trends.Yesterday’s AQI-IN of 135, though categorized as “poor,” is a slight improvement compared to the severe conditions earlier this month.With clear skies and steady breezes consistently forecasted for the entire week, air quality is now expected to stabilize. This stabilization offers a welcome respite from the high pollution levels that have been observed in the city recently.

‘Examine On Humanitarian Grounds’

NEW DELHI: After ascertaining repatriation of a pregnant Sunali Khatun along with her eight-year-old son to India, Supreme Court on Friday asked the Union govt to consider on humanitarian grounds the pleas for bringing back four others, including her husband, who were deported to Bangladesh in June this year.A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was informed by West Bengal’s counsel Kapil Sibal and counsel Sanjay Hegde, who appeared for Sunali’s father Bhodu Sekh, that she is back in India and residing with her father. When the bench asked whether adequate healthcare facilities are being extended to her, the state govt said it is providing her with required medical facilities given her advanced stage of pregnancy.Both Sibal & Hegde requested the court & solicitor general Tushar Mehta to consider bringing back the four others, who were deported along with Sunali to Bangladesh, and claimed that they have every document to prove that they were Indian citizens.Mehta said govt will need time to verify documents. The bench said, “If govt thinks on humanitarian grounds they can be brought back, it can do so. That will be without prejudice to govt’s legal arguments in the case.”The SG drew attention to a report on Friday on Sunali and said publication of such reports was meant to create a narrative, which amounts to influencing public opinion. The CJI-led bench said criticising orders of the court & publishing court proceedings in a case is perfectly fine, but attempting to peddle a narrative through a newspaper publication timed to the date of hearing is avoidable.“There should be no running commentary when a matter is sub-judice. Healthy criticism of a judgment is welcome. But publishing opinions on a sub-judice matter… the author and publisher need to be responsible. We judges are totally immune to what is published in newspapers which we go through only in the evening,” the CJI said.Sibal said, “Globally, comments are made on sub-judice matters in newspapers. It is not a sacrilege if motive is not attributed to the judge.” The CJI said, “Problem arises when distorted and half-baked truth is published. It creates a misapprehension in the minds of people.” Hegde said, “We need to develop thick skin for all these things.” The bench posted the matter for further hearing on Jan 6, when it would consider the plea for repatriation of the other four.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Friday granted permission to BMC for a proposed Coastal Road North—a 26.3 km Versova–Bhayander DP (Development Plan) Road project—that would require a maximum of 45,000-odd mangroves to be felled. The HC was hearing BMC’s plea for the court’s approval for the project since it impacts mangroves. Accepting as salutary a suggestion made by senior counsel Aspi Chinoy for BMC, a division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad also said it would keep the plea pending for 10 years with the civic body having to file a yearly update on the compensatory tree plantations.The project seeks to provide a crucial link between Mumbai and Mira Bhayander. BMC said 45,675 out of the 60,000 existing mangrove trees on the project land may need to be felled, and three times that number would be required to be planted, apart from a statutory afforestation of 103 hectares proposed in Chandrapur district.The BMC told HC 102 hectares of forest land, largely mangroves, are affected, with the project inevitably impacting 10 hectares of mangroves equivalent to 9,000 actual trees, which would be cut for the actual road construction.In Sept 2024, the mangroves division conducted a site visit and found that the actual area of construction would need over 8 hectares and 4,459 mangrove trees to be permanently destroyed and another 4300 elsewhere but on remaining 68.5 hectares, while 36,925 mangroves would be destroyed they are prepared to be restored there via compensatory planting post the road construction.The proposed road would commence at Versova, run through western suburbs to Dahisar, and then end at Mira Bhayander. It is a continuation of the Coastal Road South, the Worli Bandra Sea Link, both operational, and the under-construction Bandra-Versova Sea Link. Following an earlier HC judgment in a public interest litigation aimed at mangrove conservation, for every project, even if public, that impacts mangroves, the court’s permission is required to be sought.While the conditions usually require afforestation or compensatory planting of trees, three times those cut, and placing the data on the authority’s website, senior counsel Chinoy, himself suggested that an “effective and salutary” solution would be for the HC to keep the matter pending for 10 years and seek a yearly update from the civic body on the trees planted. “This would be better than having data put up on a website which then may remain untracked... Keep the matter pending so that it is alive, under proper supervision… officers having to file reports in court may have a greater responsibility,” said Chinoy assisted by advocate Joel Carlos before the CJ-led bench which agreed. The HC order would be available next week. The HC said on the second Monday of each new year the report be placed by the BMC. To a query from additional govt pleader Prashant Kamble, the bench confirmed such reporting would begin from 2027.The ambitious project, the BMC informed the HC, would reduce the existing almost 2-hour road time between Versova and Mira Bhayandar to less than 20 minutes and reduce travel distance by 10km from 33.6km to 23.2km. The BMC executive engineers, including Jitendra Patil, a techno-legal executive appointed for the project, were present in court. The BMC had applied in Aug 2024 to the MCZMA for the green clearance on the basis of a rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by the Centre of Envotech and Management Consultancy for the Versova-Bhayander DP Road. The free nod was received last year. On almost 19 hectares, no mangroves would be disturbed, the BMC said.The principal chief conservator of forest mangrove cells has marked 84 hectares of land in Palghar around Boisar, Dahanu and Vasai for mangrove compensation, and the proposal is to plant over 1.3 lakh mangroves, provide a chain link fence, and undertake maintenance for 10 years. The MCZMA, in its reply, said the project is outside any eco-sensitive zone, and the proposed alignment is not affected by any archaeological or heritage site.

‘Real-Term Rise In Air Ticket Prices Negative’

NEW DELHI: Amid demands to regulate airfare, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu said in Lok Sabha on Friday that the govt retains the power to intervene in extraordinary circumstances – as seen during the recent spike in ticket prices due to mass-cancellation of IndiGo flights -to protect passengers against opportunistic pricing but emphasised the importance of deregulation and viability of airlines for the sector to grow.Rejecting criticism of soaring air prices, he said in real terms the growth in airfare is actually negative if consumer price index is factored in. In India, it has fallen by 43% compared to 23% in the US and 34% in China, he said, insisting that it is obvious that a certain pricing level has been maintained to keep it affordable for people.“We all feel these are companies which are charging a lot of money. But none of them are making good money. Most of them are in losses. We have to keep this in mind,” he said, replying to a debate on a private member’s resolution on “appropriate measures to regulate airfare in the country”.Hitting back at opposition members who targeted the govt over instances of exorbitant airfares and the alleged duopoly in the sector, he said no matter how much politics they resort to, the governing alliance is committed to people and ensuring that more and more places are brought on the aviation map. If this was not the case, PM Narendra Modi would not have been elected to office three times in a row, Naidu asserted. He emphasised that deregulation in the sector since 1994 had led to its growth as more airlines joined in and competition rose to the benefits of passengers. Competition Commission of India and courts have also advocated deregulation, he said.Congress MP Shafi Parambil, who had moved the resolution, cited the airfare of over Rs 60,000 in a Srinagar to Delhi flight following the Pahalgam terror attack to bat for regulation but withdrew his resolution as per the standard convention in cases of private members’ business.Naidu noted that the govt has a tariff monitoring unit, which is being made more powerful by its inclusion in aircraft rules to lend it statutory provisions. He said the govt had intervened to cap prices for air tickets to Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh this year, and it had taken similar measures after the Pahalgam terror attack.It is not that price surge occurs every day but mostly during festive seasons, he said, stressing that the govt has sat with airlines to augment capacities in specific routes during such occurrences. Aircraft availability is one of the constraints for the sector, and the govt is working at a programme so that aircraft are manufactured in India and the country grows as a leasing hub like Ireland and Singapore, he added.

Sports presenter Grace Hayden has weighed in on the ongoing Ashes contest, backing Australia to complete a dominant series win over arch-rivals England.

Grace Hayden makes a bold prediction for the Ashes

With Australia holding a commanding 2-0 lead, Grace did not shy away from expressing her excitement and confidence in the side’s prospects. During a chat with the broadcasters of ILT20, Matthew Hayden’s daughter admitted she is “so stoked for the Aussies,” reflecting the upbeat mood among Australian supporters watching their team dictate terms early in the series.

Grace framed her prediction as part of the team’s identity and culture, noting that this is “just how we roll” when it comes to big-ticket showdowns like the Ashes. The remark underlines the aura Australia traditionally carries in multi-Test battles, especially when they seize an early advantage. With the hosts already 2-0 up in the five-match series, her assessment taps into a long-standing narrative of Australian ruthlessness once they get on top.

Looking ahead to the remaining Tests, Hayden hinted at hopes of a near-perfect outcome for the home side. She expressed her wish that the rest of the series becomes “just a watch of the Aussies taking it all out,” effectively predicting Australia to shut England out and complete the job in emphatic fashion.

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

Pat Cummins set to lead Australia’s Test squad again

Pat Cummins is poised to reclaim the captaincy of the Australian Test team for the upcoming third Ashes match against England in Adelaide. Cricket Australia has officially confirmed his inclusion in the 15-man squad for the encounter at the Adelaide Oval, scheduled to begin on December 17. This marks his return to leadership duties, relieving vice-captain Steve Smith, who successfully guided the team in Cummins’ absence.

The premier fast bowler had been sidelined for the first two Tests of the 2025-26 series due to a back injury. During this interim period, Smith marshalled the side to consecutive eight-wicket victories. However, following a rigorous rehabilitation process, team medical staff and head coach Andrew McDonald have cleared Cummins for play. They noted that his recovery exceeded expectations, revealing he was nearly available for the previous Brisbane Test but was rested as a precautionary measure.

Cummins’ return stands as the sole alteration to the squad that has dominated the series thus far.

Also READ: Ashes 2025/26 – Pat Cummins returns as Australia unveil 15-man squad for the Adelaide Test