Morning Digest: 23 killed in Goa’s Arpora nightclub fire; MetLife Stadium set to host the World Cup final as FIFA announces complete schedule, and more

Fire at Goa nightclub caused by cylinder blast kills 23 staff members

At least 23 staff members of a nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora village died in a fire late on Saturday (December 6, 2025) night, a senior official said. Goa police chief Alok Kumar told PTI that the fire occurred due to a cylinder blast. “At least 23 bodies have been recovered. Those who have died were the staff of the club,” the Director General of Police said.

FIFA World Cup 2026 | MetLife Stadium to host the final as FIFA announces complete schedule

The World Cup final will kick off at 3 p.m. EDT next July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FIFA announced the start times for the tournament’s 104 matches on Saturday (December 6, 2025), a day after the draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament. The kickoff time allows for prime-time viewing in Europe, where it will be 9 p.m., and Britain, where it will be 8 p.m.. The World Cup opener at Mexico City on June 11 between El Tri and South Africa will start at 1 p.m. local (3 p.m. EDT).

DGCA serves showcause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers

The DGCA on Saturday (December 6, 2025) served a show cause notice to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers seeking an explanation within 24 hours on why enforcement action should not be initiated against him for the large scale flight disruptions resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations over the past week. “Whereas such large-scale operational failures indicate significant lapses in planning, oversight, and resource management, and prima facie non-compliance on the part of the airline” with the rules governing pilot rest and duty norms, read the showcause notice. The Hindu has reviewed a copy of this show-cause notice.

CPI(M) MP seeks JPC or judicial inquiry into ‘exploitative airfare surge’

CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Saturday (December 6, 2025) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee or a judicial inquiry into what he described as an “unprecedented disruption of civil aviation and the exploitative surge of airfares”. Stating that millions of air travellers have, over the past few days, been subjected to an “unprecedented” collapse of civil aviation services and economic exploitation through “unbridled airfare escalation”, Mr. Brittas said the crisis following the enforcement of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms has “exposed deep structural failures in regulatory preparedness, market oversight, and consumer protection, leaving ordinary passengers dangerously vulnerable”.

Congress top brass discusses Karnataka leadership issue, to meet again

The leadership tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, D.K. Shivakumar, was one of the key issues that the top leadership of the Congress party discussed on Saturday at Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s official residence. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the general secretary in-charge of organisation K.C. Venugopal attended the closed door meeting.

‘Historic blunders’ on J&K and China are Nehru’s legacy: BJP

“Historical blunders like letting Pakistan and China occupy Indian territory, and granting special status to Jammu & Kashmir” were the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (December 7, 2025), responding to Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s charge that the ruling establishment’s main goal was to defame the former Prime Minister.

Congress cites Maniben Patel’s diary entries, asks Rajnath to apologise for Babri claim

The Congress on Saturday (December 6, 2025) shared diary entries of Vallabhbhai Patel’s daughter, Maniben Patel, from a book to rebut Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s claim that India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, wanted to build the Babri Masjid using public funds. The party also demanded that Mr. Singh apologise for spreading “falsehoods”. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh claimed the Defence Minister was spreading falsehoods to “improve his relationship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Boeing says Trump’s equity stake plan doesn’t apply to big U.S. defence firms

U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to take government equity stakes in strategic industries doesn’t apply to major defence firms, the head of Boeing’s defence unit said on Saturday (December 6, 2025). “It really only applies on the supply chain, particularly for the smaller companies coming through where that might be a way forward for them to get some equity,” Steve Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Defence, Space & Security, said on a panel at the Reagan National Defense Forum, an annual industry event in Simi Valley, California.

At least 18 migrants killed as inflatable boat sinks south of Greek island of Crete; 2 rescued

At least 18 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in an inflatable boat died when it capsized south of the island of Crete, Greek authorities said on Saturday (December 6, 2025). The half-sunken boat was located on Saturday by a passing Turkish merchant vessel, authorities said. Two survivors were rescued and a rescue operation to find more was ongoing.

Hamas says will give up arms to a Palestinian authority ‘if occupation ends’

Hamas said on Saturday (December 6, 2025) it was ready to hand over its weapons in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority governing the territory on the condition that the Israeli army’s occupation ends. “Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and the aggression,” Hamas chief negotiator and its Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said in a statement, adding: “If the occupation ends, these weapons will be placed under the authority of the state.” Asked by AFP, Hayya’s bureau said he was referring to a sovereign and independent Palestnian state.

IND vs SA 3rd ODI: Prasidh, Jaiswal hog the limelight in India’s triumph

K.L. Rahul conquered India’s coin demons, Yashasvi Jaiswal went the distance, Prasidh Krishna silenced naysayers, and Kuldeep Yadav underlined his importance as India registered a thumping nine-wicket win over South Africa to seal a 2-1 victory in the ODI series at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatanam on Saturday (December 6, 2025).

Published – December 07, 2025 06:52 am IST