IndiGo flight cancellations caused massive chaos at airports

NEW DELHI: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Thursday stated that they have taken the complaints against IndiGo under consideration after wide=spread disruptions caused earlier this month, which included cancellation of hundreds of domestic flights.“The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has taken cognizance of Information filed against IndiGo in the context of the recent flight disruptions witnessed in the aviation sector, across various routes,” said CCI in a press release.

Further confirming that they are moving forward with regards to the case it added, “Based on the initial assessment, the Commission has decided to proceed further in the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002.”This comes as the airlines witnessed widespread flight cancellations and delays mainly between December 3 and 5 due to operational and system-related challenges across several airports. The airline issued multiple public advisories and apologies during the period as it worked to restore normal operations and clear backlogs.Although earlier in the day, CEO Pieter Elbers announced that the operations have normalised completely while acknowledging the issues passengers faced. “Dear Indigo colleagues, through the storm we are finding our wings again. The worst is behind us. These last two weeks have been very challenging for all of us,” he said.Elbers also thanked pilots, cabin crew, airport staff, operations, control and customer service teams for what he described as their collective dedication.Later, an IndiGo spokesperson also shared a message via a press statement claiming the operations have stabilised. “Having completely stabilised operations across the network starting 09 December 2025 with 1,800+ flights, IndiGo has been gradually and carefully adding capacity and will be operating over 2,200 flights today, in line with the revised schedule,” it said.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Mitchell Starc delivered a blunt verdict on decision-review technology after Snicko once again became the centre of attention during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, describing it as the “worst technology ever” following a series of controversial calls on Day 2. The debate around Snicko had already been raging since the opening day, sparked by a major moment involving Alex Carey. The Australia wicketkeeper survived a strong caught-behind appeal on 72 despite replays showing a noticeable spike. However, the sound appeared to register well before the ball reached the bat, leading third umpire Chris Gaffaney to conclude there was a “clear gap” between bat and ball. Carey went on to capitalise fully, scoring his maiden Ashes century and shaping Australia’s innings.

Questions over the technology resurfaced on Day 2, with England batter Jamie Smith finding himself at the heart of two close decisions in quick succession. In the 44th over, Pat Cummins appeared to glove Smith, with Usman Khawaja completing the catch at slip. With doubts over whether the ball had carried, on-field umpire Nitin Menon referred the decision upstairs. Despite Smith’s glove visibly moving, Snicko showed no spike, and Gaffaney ruled the ball had brushed Smith’s helmet instead, allowing him to continue. The ruling prompted an immediate and audible reaction from Starc, whose frustration was caught on the stump microphone. “Snicko needs to be sacked. It’s the worst technology ever,” Starc said. Confusion deepened just two overs later. Smith attempted a pull shot off Cummins and was caught behind by Carey, with Menon again sending the decision upstairs without a player review. This time, Snicko produced a spike a frame after the ball passed the bat, which was deemed enough evidence to overturn the on-field call and give Smith out, further fuelling questions over the system’s reliability. Carey had already admitted after Day 1 that he felt he may have edged the ball during his own reprieve, even though the technology failed to confirm it. “I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat. It looked a bit funny on the replay, didn’t it, with the noise coming early?” Carey said. “If I were given out, I think I would have reviewed it — probably not confidently though. It was a nice sound as it passed the bat.” The wicketkeeper also made it clear he would not have walked, pointing to the technology’s verdict. “Snicko obviously didn’t line up, did it? That’s just the way cricket goes sometimes. You have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way today.” BBG Sports, the company responsible for providing Snicko technology in Australian Tests, later acknowledged fault in Carey’s incident. Founder Warren Brennan explained that the error was likely due to the incorrect audio feed being used, adding another layer to a growing controversy that has overshadowed the Adelaide Test.

Jagatsinghpur worker returns from conflict-torn Sudan

BHUBANESWAR: When Jagatsinghpur native Adarsh Behera received a job offer in 2022 from a plastic manufacturing company in Sudan, he hoped to make life better for his seven-member family that struggled to make ends meet through farming. However, his ordeal began in April 2023 when civil war broke out in Sudan. Struggling without money and food, he was captured and jailed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Darfur-based paramilitary group, for nearly one and a half months. On Wednesday, his nightmare ended after he reached Bhubaneswar, following his rescue a day earlier.Previously employed with a plastic company in Surat (Gujarat), Behera was offered the job of a machine operator by the owner of Sukrati Plastic factory at Al Fashir in Sudan. The Sudan factory procured raw materials from the Surat-based company, and its owner liked Behera’s work. He was promised a salary of around $1,000 per month.Hailing from Kotakana, he shifted to Sudan in Nov 2022 and worked for eight months until the company was shut down after the civil war started. “Since I signed a contract of three years, our owner asked us to stay back as he expected the war to get over in two to three months. But that didn’t happen. My salary stopped, but he provided us free food and water for a year,” recalled Behera. When the situation did not improve after a year, the free food stopped, and Behera was left to fend for himself. With prices of even basic items spiralling due to the war, he survived on just bread and biscuits. Behera’s wife, Sasmita, had to sell all her jewellery to send him Rs 2 lakh in the past one year to buy bread and medicines.

“All throughout, I hid in the accommodation provided by the owner in Al Fashir, but as bombings and gunfire increased, I felt it was no longer safe to stay there,” he said. On Oct 24, he decided to find a safer spot but was captured by RSF, who suspected that he worked for the Sudanese army.Five days later, his family received a voice message informing them that he was abducted, and subsequently, a video was sent to them showing him surrounded by armed men. “They assaulted me on day 1 and kept me in a small room at Mina jail in Al Fashir. One of those armed men was kind enough to give me a mobile phone, and I could contact my family through WhatsApp for five minutes every day,” he said.RSF told him that his release could only be secured by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that works in the region. Subsequently, his family approached chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, ICRC and ministry of external affairs (MEA) to intervene. The issue was also raised in Parliament by Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhu Prasad Tarai. Subsequently, the Indian embassy in Sudan and ICRC coordinated to release him from captivity on Tuesday.CM Majhi thanked the MEA and the Indian embassy for the successful mission. “The safety and well-being of every Odia, whether within the state or abroad, is the top priority of our govt. In times of crisis, we are always and forever by your side,” he wrote on X.

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PM Narendra Modi conferred with Order of Oman (Image/ANI)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday was conferred with the Order of Oman, the Sultanate’s highest civilian award, during his ongoing two-day visit to the Gulf nation.During the visit, India and Oman also signed a landmark free trade agreement, marking a significant boost to bilateral ties. Oman is the final leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which also included Jordan and Ethiopia.

PM Modi receives Oman’s highest civilian honour

PM Modi received the Order of Oman from Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in recognition of his contributions to strengthening India–Oman relations. The honour adds to PM Modi’s list of over 29 top civilian awards conferred by foreign governments, including recent recognitions from Ethiopia and Kuwait.He was awarded the First Class of the Order of Oman, previously conferred on distinguished global leaders such as Queen Elizabeth, Emperor Akihito, Nelson Mandela and King Abdullah of Jordan.Earlier, during his first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, PM Modi was conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, the Great Honour Nishan, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.The Prime Minister arrived in Muscat on Wednesday and was accorded a warm welcome, including a ceremonial guard of honour. His visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, with both sides focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, maritime security and culture.

Historic free trade agreement signed

A key outcome of the visit has been the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman. A notable feature of the pact is the inclusion of India’s traditional medicine systems, marking the first time AYUSH products and services have been incorporated into a trade agreement.According to an official statement, Oman has committed to traditional medicine across all modes of supply, opening new market access for India’s AYUSH and wellness sectors in the Gulf region.The CEPA includes a dedicated annexure on trade in health-related and traditional medicine services and provides for cooperation in licensing procedures, digital examinations, medical value travel, capacity building, harmonisation of standards and joint research. India’s AYUSH exports have grown steadily, rising from $1.09 billion in 2014 to $1.54 billion in 2020.India and Oman have also adopted a Joint Vision Document and signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as maritime heritage and museums, scientific research and innovation, skills development, agriculture and trade cooperation between business chambers. A business dialogue highlighted investment opportunities aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and India’s growth priorities.Addressing Indian students and members of the diaspora at the ‘Maitri Parv’ event in Muscat, PM Modi described the gathering as a “mini-India” and highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries. He said 21st-century India takes “big and swift decisions,” moves ahead with ambitious goals and delivers results within defined timelines.The Prime Minister highlighted India’s economic transformation, noting strong growth despite global challenges. He spoke about progress in infrastructure, manufacturing, healthcare, digital public infrastructure, innovation and the space sector. PM Modi further added that India was emerging not just as a market, but as a global model.PM Modi also underlined the deep historical and cultural bonds between India and Oman, calling the diaspora the “biggest custodian” of centuries-old ties.He said the partnership was becoming future-ready through cooperation in AI, digital learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and space, including the India–Oman Space Portal developed under an ISRO collaboration.During the visit, PM Modi met Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The Omani leadership also hosted a formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister and his delegation, reflecting the warmth of ties between the two nations.

After concluding his association with Karan Johar-led Dharma Productions, talent manager Bunty Sajdeh has begun a new chapter by forging a strategic partnership between his firm Cornerstone and Armour Entertainment, signalling a renewed, independent approach to talent management. Cornerstone, founded by Sajdeh, has entered into a strategic alliance with Armour Entertainment, led by industry veteran Prarthana Ajmani. The partnership comes in the wake of structural changes at Dharma Productions and marks Sajdeh’s return to operating as a fully independent entity in the entertainment business.Explaining the decision to part ways with Dharma, Sajdeh tells us that the move was driven by circumstance rather than conflict. Following a significant investment into Dharma Productions last year, the studio decided to consolidate its ancillary businesses under a single corporate umbrella. “Cornerstone is an independent entity and I wanted it to remain that way,” Sajdeh said, adding that Dharma acquired DCA in its entirety from Cornerstone, allowing both companies to continue operating separately in the industry.

Reflecting on his time at Dharma, Sajdeh said, “Every step in life is a learning experience. I have always been blessed with having stalwarts as mentors and business partners in my life and career. It goes without saying that Karan Johar is right up there with the best and I have learned so much from him professionally; people skills for one. Time management is another art I really need to master from him! I’ve spent so much more time with him professionally and learned so much about the Film industry and business as a whole. And he still remains and will continue to be my close friend and confidante and I know he will always be there for me professionally and personally.” Sajdeh also spoke about the ease of working with Johar, saying, “Karan and I go way back as friends on a personal level so there’s always been that comfort and ease of collaborating with him professionally. As busy as he is running multiple businesses, he always has the time to connect and even meet when there’s a requirement no matter big or small. He is just that human.”The new alliance with Armour Entertainment was shaped as much by trust as by strategy. Sajdeh has known Ajmani for several years and described her as one of the most respected talent managers in the business. While Sajdeh is often seen as being sports-centric, he said Ajmani brings deep expertise in managing film actors. “It was discussed over two coffees, made perfect sense, and we hugged it out,” he said, underscoring the natural fit between the two teams.Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has come on board as the first talent under the Cornerstone–Armour partnership. Sajdeh said Shroff’s decision to continue with him at this stage holds particular significance. “I’m grateful for Tiger’s belief in our vision,” he said, adding that the timing aligns well with the actor’s career trajectory. According to Sajdeh, Shroff is entering his prime and making choices that will allow the agency to build what he describes as “Tiger 2.0.”

Punjab Kings made calculated moves at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, spending ₹121.50 crore to complete a 25-player squad while leaving ₹3.50 crore unspent. After reaching the IPL 2025 final, PBKS retained a strong 21-player core led by captain Shreyas Iyer, focusing on stability rather than a full rebuild. The auction added key reinforcements like Australian all-rounders to address gaps left by releases such as Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis.​

Punjab Kings retention strategy and auction tactics in IPL 2026 Auction

PBKS entered the auction with just ₹11.50 crore and four slots to fill, prioritizing value buys over splashy spending. Head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized continuity around their IPL 2025 runners-up core, retaining pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal at ₹18 crore each to anchor the bowling. They targeted versatile overseas all-rounders to replace Maxwell’s firepower, securing Cooper Connolly as a like-for-like option after his explosive Big Bash League form, including a 59 off 31 balls in the opener. Ben Dwarshuis added left-arm pace depth, while domestic picks like Praveen Dubey and Vishal Nishad provided economical squad balance at ₹30 lakh each. This approach reflects Ponting’s preference for balanced units capable of adapting to varied conditions, blending experience with youth like Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera.​

The franchise avoided overbidding frenzy, focusing on players fitting their middle-order aggression and death-over needs. Releases of underperformers like Maxwell freed overseas slots without disrupting the spine of Iyer, Arshdeep, and Marcus Stoinis. Iyer’s presence at the auction table ensured captain-led decisions, underscoring PBKS’s trust in his IPL-winning pedigree from Kolkata Knight Riders. With eight overseas players maxed out, the squad now boasts flexibility for impact subs, positioning PBKS as title contenders in IPL 2026.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete list of sold players with their price

Salaries of PBKS Players in IPL 2026

Punjab Kings finalized their 25-player squad at the IPL 2026 auction, spending ₹121.50 crore while leaving ₹3.50 crore unspent.​

 Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Full list of unsold players along with their base price

MUMBAI: K East ward, made of the eastern parts of the Vile Parle, Andheri and Jogeshwari belt, stands today as one of Mumbai’s most blighted administrative zones, a place where civic dysfunction has spiralled so wildly out of control that it feels like a genie long uncorked and now impossible to contain. From Andheri (E)’s suffocating traffic and mountains of garbage to the chaos of hawker encroachments and collapsing basic services, the ward’s problems have outgrown its leadership, leaving residents trapped in a daily battle for livability. Jogeshwari (E) and Vile Parle (E) fare marginally better.Pleas by citizens go unheeded, while complaints by former corporators get short shrift from civic officials since their term ended in 2022. The flow of BMC corporator funds has stopped, so the resources and impetus to act are missing. The ward slid towards the saffron scale with six BJP corporators in 2017, up from one in 2012. Shiv Sena won nine seats in 2012 but dropped to four in 2017. Congress and independents remain on the fringe. Activist Godfrey Pimenta of Watchdog Foundation says, “K East is in a deplorable state. Hawkers have overrun footpaths along Andheri-Kurla Road. On top of that, there is double-parking near the Saturday Bazaar. Tankers, tempos and trucks clog the road. Footpaths are continuously dug, stripping away safe walking space. Corporators have shown no accountability since their term ended. A grievance redressal mechanism is non-existent. BMC and traffic police rarely take action.”

Activist Sriganesh Parthasarathy says, “Urban planning is pathetic. There are foot over-bridges that nobody uses, and flyovers are made in such a way that they create traffic jams. Footpaths are occupied by vendors, especially in MIDC, Ramakrishna Mandir Road and near Seepz. Main water pipelines are buried in tons of garbage and sewage that would take at least a decade to clear. This is behind Seepz and the airport’s international terminal (T2). None of the corporators in the last two decades have cleared this muck. Garbage trucks are parked near JB Nagar metro station. Voters need candidates who will personally supervise clean-up work.”Local MLA Murji Patel has been a corporator since 1981, and his wife Kesarben was elected twice, in 2012 and 2017. “Metro 3 has greatly benefited the area. A floating population of around six lakh people travels to Andheri for work every day, including Seepz and offices and factories along Andheri-Kurla Road and Marol. A major problem remains Andheri Subway, where monsoon flooding disrupts connectivity with Andheri (W) every year. We are urging the govt to find a permanent solution. Traffic and illegal hawkers are vexed issues too. But we are trying to clear Development Plan roads of encroachment to disperse traffic. Garbage collection is an ongoing effort,” he said. “I had to step in to help improve water supply to a hilltop slum right beside my office.”Traffic is a major problem, said former BJP corporator Abhijeet Samant. “We cannot widen roads beyond a limit. But we can limit unauthorised parking and hawkers. I have also requested BMC to provide water with adequate pressure by maintaining the reservoir level so that it can supply to far-flung areas too.” The main issue is water shortage, said former Sena corporator Priyanka Sawant (now with UBT). “Corporation funds have stopped for four years since our term ended. Garbage collection suffers and nullahs are clogged. Drainage lines of many buildings are not connected, so their waste simply drains into sewers. Meanwhile, slum dwellers have no space to build toilets inside their huts, so they have to rely on public toilets, which are grossly inadequate.“Former corporators Kamlesh and wife Sushma Rai have held office for a collective five terms. “My own society, Vasant Oasis, pays Rs 13 lakh per year as water tanker charges because BMC is yet to connect a simple gap in supply. Since we are no longer corporators they pay no heed. In the matter of hawkers, BMC is a failure,” rues Kamlesh. Sushma is taking up cudgels for slum dwellers who have encroached on Sahar airport land and are staring at displacement.In Jogeshwari, ex-BJP corporator Pankaj Yadav advocates underground parking beneath Ismail Yusuf College ground, civic gardens and open spaces. “It is illegal to park heavy commercial vehicles in residential areas. Such solutions are necessary,” he said. Some outgoing corporators allege that “a local BJP MLA” has instructed BMC not to take cognizance of the opposition’s complaints. “Merely cutting the ribbon to inaugurate work done by others deserves no credit. We have no expectation from Mahayuti given the Vote Chori scam and Ladki Bahin scheme, which is nothing but cash for votes. They have hijacked the system. One day it will all sink. Yeh sabko lekar doobenge,” alleged a corporator. Denying them, Murji Patel, who is now with the Shinde Sena, said, “Corporators are not getting individual funds, but BMC gives a common fund. People can apply and receive help. Of course, the sooner the civic election is held, the formal restitution of administration can begin.”