India’s civil-aviation ministry has issued a directive mandating strict adherence to fare caps across all airlines amid a major crisis at IndiGo, where more than 400 flights were cancelled on Friday, disrupting travel for thousands. The caps aim to prevent opportunistic price hikes during the unsettled period of airline operations. The cancellations stem from IndiGo’s failure to fully adjust to new pilot duty and rest regulations, causing widespread roster and scheduling breakdowns. (PC: The Hindu)

Simone Tata passed away at 95 on Friday at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Geneva in 1930, she moved to India in 1955 and soon joined Lakmé’s board. As chairperson from the early 1980s, she transformed Lakmé into a leading Indian cosmetics brand. After selling Lakmé to Hindustan Unilever, she founded the Trent company, launching the now-famed Westside retail chain. She was also active in philanthropy, guiding institutions like the Sir Ratan Tata Institute. (PC: ITG)

At Mumbai Airport, a foreign passenger lost her temper over IndiGo’s flight cancellations and climbed barefoot atop a counter, demanding answers. With all her belongings packed and no extra clothes, she also requested food, visibly frustrated at being stranded along with thousands of other passengers across India. Similar scenes played out nationwide, with travellers missing work, events, and personal commitments due to abrupt cancellations. Over 100 flights were cancelled at Delhi and Mumbai airports, caused by pilot and crew shortages under new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. The government has put FDTL on hold and ordered a high-level inquiry to restore normal operations.

At HTLS 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that for a country like India, it is crucial to maintain major international relationships in good standing. Speaking during Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi, he stressed India’s need to preserve “freedom of choice” in foreign policy, ensuring it can cooperate with multiple global players without external vetoes. Jaishankar highlighted the importance of balancing strategic partnerships while protecting national interests, underlining India’s growing role on the world stage and the need for stable, mutually beneficial diplomatic ties. (PC: X)

During a high-level summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin prioritized strengthening economic and energy cooperation, deliberately avoiding public discussion on defence deals or Russian oil imports. Both leaders outlined a “Vision 2030” roadmap aiming to boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, with collaboration across energy, technology, civil nuclear power, and critical minerals. Russia reaffirmed its commitment to uninterrupted fuel shipments to India. Analysts view the summit as a strategic move to deepen economic engagement while navigating global geopolitical pressures, signaling a pragmatic approach to India-Russia relations. (PC: X)

Pregnant Sunali Khatun and her eight‑year‑old son returned to India 162 days after being pushed back to Bangladesh as alleged illegal immigrants. Their repatriation followed a December 1 bail order from a Bangladesh court. On Wednesday evening, the duo crossed into India at the Mahadipur border in Malda after coordination between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). While Sunali and her son were brought back, four others — including her husband — remain in Bangladesh. Social workers hailed their return as a historic moment, highlighting the struggles of migrant families wrongly labelled illegal. (PC: X)  

Michael Rubin — former U.S. Pentagon official — has argued that Trump merits the Nobel Peace Prize for the recent diplomatic realignment between India and Russia, following the high‑profile visit of Vladimir Putin to New Delhi. Rubin claimed that from Russia’s viewpoint, the visit and the honours extended to Putin were unprecedented, and that Trump’s policies helped shape that outcome. He also criticized U.S. criticism of India’s continuing energy and strategic ties with Russia — calling Washington’s stance “hypocritical.” Rubin’s remarks have stirred debate, as many analysts question whether diplomatic proximity alone should merit a Peace Prize. (PC: X)

Indian cricket star Smriti Mandhana made her first Instagram appearance following the postponement of her wedding to composer Palash Muchhal, initially scheduled for November 23. In a promotional video for a toothpaste brand, fans quickly noticed she was not wearing her engagement ring, triggering widespread speculation about the timing of the ad and her engagement status. Mandhana’s post has gone viral, with supporters expressing curiosity and concern. The wedding delay was reportedly due to health emergencies in both families. Her return to social media marks her first public engagement update since the postponement. (PC: X)

At their December 5 summit in New Delhi, Vladimir Putin assured Narendra Modi of “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel from Russia, reinforcing their energy cooperation despite mounting U.S. sanctions. The leaders also unveiled a broad economic cooperation programme through 2030, targeting $100 billion in bilateral trade. Modi emphasized that energy security remains a “strong and important pillar” of their partnership. While Modi reiterated India’s appeal for peace on Ukraine, he avoided directly condemning Moscow. (PC: AFP)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center placed Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B, and USA in Group D. Defending champions Argentina were placed in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, opening their campaign against Algeria. France landed in a tough Group I with Senegal, Norway, and a play-off winner, creating a “group of death” scenario. England will face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in Group L. At the ceremony, Donald Trump received FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize. (PC: X)