The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply questioned the Centre over the IndiGo “crisis” that left thousands stranded. The bench asked, “How can a ticket cost ₹35,000 or ₹39,000?” and said the sudden fare surge caused “trouble and harassment” to passengers. The court also asked how the situation was allowed to “worsen to such an extent”. It noted that a government committee is already probing the issue and directed the Centre to submit its report by January 22. The judges said their remarks were to ensure “public interest” and told authorities to normalise operations and maintain enough pilot strength. (PC: HT)

Virat Kohli is now second in the ICC ODI rankings for batters. The Indian star scored 302 runs in the three-match series against South Africa. His performance included centuries in Ranchi and Raipur. Kohli’s rating is now 773, just eight points behind teammate Rohit Sharma, who leads with 781. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran are third and fourth. Kohli was last ranked No.1 in March 2021. He was named Player of the Series as India won the series 2-1. Kohli’s rise shows he is in top form and ready to reclaim the top spot. (PC: India Today)

Three Delhi schools—Modern School, Delhi Public School (RK Puram), and Sanskriti School—received bomb threats via email on Wednesday morning. Bomb disposal teams were rushed to the campuses, and anti-sabotage checks are ongoing. No suspicious objects have been found so far. The emails, sent from “wasung@atomicmail.io”, referenced fake police encounters, the Khalistan movement, and the UN. Police are working to identify the sender. Delhi has seen a series of bomb threats recently, including emails to Ramjas and Deshbandhu Colleges on December 3. Authorities continue to monitor schools closely to ensure safety and prevent panic. (PC: HT)

A 15-year-old boy was fatally stabbed on Westbourne Road in Islington, north London, on 9 December. Emergency services treated him at the scene, but he later died in hospital. The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation and set up a cordon around Atlas Mews, Westbourne Road, and Arundel Square. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said urgent inquiries are ongoing and the family is being supported by specialist officers. He urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact the police or Crimestoppers. The attack has raised concerns in the local community due to the victim’s young age. (PC: BBC)

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday questioned the Centre over the IndiGo flight crisis, where hundreds of flights were cancelled and fares surged up to Rs 39,000. Justice Gedela asked why airlines were allowed to overcharge and why pilots were overworked. The court noted the situation caused passenger harassment and economic loss. While the Centre listed steps taken during the crisis, the court emphasized that the focus should be on preventing such events. Authorities were asked what measures were taken to compensate passengers and ensure airline employees act responsibly. The court demanded answers on accountability and preventive action. (PC: NDTV)

Christmas is celebrated differently across the world, focusing on meaning rather than gifts. In Iceland, families exchange books and read by candlelight. Japan treats Christmas Eve like Valentine’s Day, with couples enjoying romantic dinners. Australians play cricket with family in the sun, while Finns visit cemeteries to light candles for ancestors. In Ukraine, spiderwebs decorate trees for luck. Danes make homemade decorations in community craft sessions. In Venezuela, people skate to early morning church services. These traditions show that Christmas can be reflective, creative, and communal, reminding people that joy comes from togetherness, not material gifts. (PC: BBC)

Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub in Goa, where 25 people died in a fire, have moved Delhi’s Rohini Court for anticipatory bail. The brothers fled to Phuket hours after the incident. Goa Police have coordinated with CBI and Interpol and issued a Blue Corner Notice. Ajay Gupta, another owner, was brought to the Sunlight Colony Crime Branch for questioning and is expected in court. Investigations continue as authorities examine the cause of the fire. The district administration has demolished part of the nightclub as the probe progresses. (PC: HT)

Amazon announced it will invest $35 billion in India by 2030 to expand its digital, logistics, and AI businesses. The investment aims to create 1 million direct and indirect jobs across technology, operations, logistics, and customer support. Amazon has already invested nearly $40 billion in India over 15 years, digitising 12 million small businesses and enabling $20 billion in e-commerce exports. The company plans to make AI tools accessible to 15 million small businesses, support 4 million students with AI education, and quadruple exports to $80 billion. This move strengthens India as a key growth market. (PC: India Today)

Rishabh Rajput and Sonali Chouksey, a couple from Madhya Pradesh, married last month after 11 years together. Their wedding photos and videos went viral, but trolls targeted the groom’s dark skin and accused the bride of marrying for money. The couple, both working in private jobs, spoke out against the criticism. “People’s negative opinions mean nothing to me,” said Mr Rajput. Ms Chouksey added that judging someone by skin colour is wrong. They stressed their happiness and strong relationship. The couple hopes their story will challenge colourism in India and remind people not to judge by appearances. (PC: BBC)

IndiGo’s large-scale flight cancellations have put sharp focus on Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the youngest minister in the Modi government. Naidu met IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers in Delhi to review steps taken to stabilise operations. The three-time Srikakulam MP, seen as a close aide to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, entered politics after his father’s death and has built a reputation for calm leadership and strong policy work. He has also been praised for supporting women’s rights. In Parliament, he said the crisis was caused by IndiGo’s “crew rostering and internal planning” failures, not regulatory changes. (PC: X)