Pakistan will sell a majority stake in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to meet IMF loan conditions. The bidding will take place on December 23 and will be shown live. Four bidders, including the military-linked Fauji Fertiliser, have qualified. The sale is part of the $7-billion IMF package that demands major reforms. PIA has struggled for years due to huge debts, weak management and major scandals, including pilots with fake licences. The airline also lost key routes after global bans in 2020. Pakistan hopes the privatisation will reduce losses as its economy remains under severe stress. (PC: India Today)

A woman in Panipat, Haryana, was arrested for drowning her six-year-old niece during a family wedding. Police said the accused, Poonam, killed the child on December 1 by placing her in a water-filled tub and locking the door from outside. During questioning, Poonam confessed she was “irritated by beautiful girls” and admitted to killing three other children in the past, including her own three-year-old son. She also confessed to drowning a nine-year-old relative in 2023 and another six-year-old girl in August this year. Earlier deaths were believed to be accidents. Police have launched a full investigation. (PC: HT)

India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, has asked IndiGo to explain its sharp drop in performance after the airline cancelled 1,232 flights in November. The scrutiny comes on a day when 85 more flights were cancelled across Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad due to crew shortages, technical issues and airport congestion. Passengers shared angry posts on social media, complaining of long delays, lack of updates and chaotic scenes at airports. Several travellers said they were stranded for hours without clarity. The DGCA is now examining the reasons behind the cancellations and delays as IndiGo faces growing pressure to fix operations.

IndiGo apologised for widespread flight disruptions across India that affected thousands of passengers. At least 150 flights were cancelled or delayed at major airports, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The airline said technical glitches, winter schedule changes, weather, congestion, and new crew duty rules caused the disruptions. IndiGo has begun “calibrated adjustments” to its schedules, which will continue for 48 hours to restore normal operations. Passengers are being offered alternate travel or refunds. The airline asked travellers to check flight status online before heading to airports. Other carriers, including Air India, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet, also faced delays. (PC: HT)

The Lok Sabha has passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, enabling the government to levy central excise duties on tobacco and similar “sin goods” such as pan masala, ahead of the scheduled phase-out of the GST compensation cess. Under the new framework duties on such items will range broadly and specific taxes on cigarettes will depend on attributes like length and filter use. The move is designed to maintain high taxation on harmful goods, protect public health and preserve fiscal revenues once the existing cess ends. (PC: PTI)

IndiGo cancelled 38 flights from Delhi between Tuesday midnight and Wednesday evening due to crew shortage and technical issues. The airline also scrapped more than 70 flights across India, including 42 from Bengaluru and 32 from Mumbai. Officials said the new Flight Duty Time Limitations, introduced on November 1, reduced crew availability. Passengers faced long delays and confusion at major airports. IndiGo said its system was hit by minor tech glitches, winter schedule changes, bad weather, and congestion. The airline is adjusting schedules for the next 48 hours and offering refunds or alternate travel options. (PC: HT)

In a disturbing case in Panipat, Haryana, a woman has been arrested for the alleged drowning of four children — three girls and her own son — driven by jealousy over their appearance. Investigations revealed each child was submerged in shallow water tubs or tanks, one only about a foot deep — challenging claims of accidental death. Police say she killed the children she believed to be “more beautiful than her” and celebrated after the acts, before finally being questioned and confessing within 36 hours. (PC: India Today)

The Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app will no longer be required to be pre-installed on all smartphones, the Ministry of Communications announced amid widespread backlash. The original directive aimed to mandate the app’s presence on new and existing devices to bolster mobile security, citing ~14 million downloads and daily detection of nearly 2,000 fraudulent connections. Critics — including industry and privacy advocates — raised concerns over user consent and surveillance risks. The government clarified the app remains voluntary: users can delete it and registration isn’t compulsory. (PC: Reuters)

IndiGo faced a major nationwide disruption as nearly 200 flights were cancelled and many others delayed due to an acute shortage of crew following new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules. The updated regulations require longer rest periods for pilots, sharply reducing available staff and pushing the airline’s on-time performance to about 35%. The situation was worsened by winter weather, air-traffic congestion and internal scheduling issues. Passengers across major cities reported long queues and sudden cancellations. IndiGo stated that teams are working continuously to stabilise operations, rebook affected travellers and normalise services within the next 48 hours. (PC: NDTV)

The Supreme Court of India has permitted the return of a pregnant woman, Sunali Khatun, and her eight-year-old son, who were earlier deported to Bangladesh. The Union Government informed the court that it would facilitate their re-entry and monitor them, while the West Bengal Government has been directed to ensure medical support and welfare. The Court clarified that this relief is granted solely on humanitarian grounds and does not settle their citizenship status, which remains under investigation. The bench stressed that human dignity and urgent medical needs justified immediate intervention. (PC: PTI)