Morning Digest: IndiGo cancels 550 flights, airports see continued turmoil; PM Modi welcomes Putin in Delhi, hosts private dinner, and more

IndiGo cancels 550 flights, airports see continued turmoil

Chaos persisted at airports across the country as IndiGo’s flight delays stretched into Thursday (December 4, 2025), forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The disruption hit other carriers, which were forced to cancel some flights as IndiGo aircraft occupied parking bays amid lack of available crew.

PM welcomes Putin at airport in warm gesture, hails India-Russia partnership

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at the Air Force Station Palam on Thursday (December 4, 2025) evening, ahead of the India-Russia annual summit scheduled for Friday (December 6).

Tirupparankundram row | T.N. loses appeal, judge again orders lighting of lamp at Deepathoon

A tense stand-off prevailed at Tirupparankundram in Madurai for the second day, as Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Subramaniya Swamy temple authorities to ensure that the lamp was lit at the Deepathoon (pillar) near a dargah, after the State lost an appeal against his earlier order to this effect.

Parliament approves Bill to levy higher excise duty on tobacco

Parliament on Thursday (December 4, 2025) approved a Bill to levy a higher excise duty on tobacco and related products once the GST compensation cess ends, with the Rajya Sabha returning the legislation to the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on Wednesday (December 3).

Proposed power to ECI to hold simultaneous polls is not excessive, Law Commission tells House panel

The proposed power to the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a Bill that seeks to lay a legal framework to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies is not excessive, the Law Commission is learnt to have told a parliamentary committee on Thursday (December 4, 2025).

3,258 Indians deported from U.S. in 2025, highest since 2009

Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (December 4, 2025) that since January 2025, 3,258 Indian nationals have been deported by the United States, the highest figure for any year since 2009. A total of 18,822 Indian nationals have been deported since 2009. Mr. Jaishankar was replying to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Ramjilal Suman.

A year after Sandhya Theatre stampede, young survivor struggles with only 5% recovery

A year after the stampede at Sandhya Theatre in RTC X roads during the premiere of Allu Arjun starrer ‘Pushpa-2’, nine-year-old survivor M. Sritej has shown only 5% recovery and continues to undergo intensive neuro-rehabilitation in Hyderabad. Speaking to The Hindu, a family member said that progress of the victim has been painfully slow despite round-the-clock care.

Pakistan formally appoints Asim Munir as first Chief of Defence Forces

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday (December 4, 2025) approved the appointment of the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years. President Zardari approved the summary submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, formally asking him to appoint Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir as the first CDF of Pakistan.

Zohran Mamdani, Louvre make list of most mispronounced words of 2025

From the election of Zohran Mamdani to the intrigue surrounding the jewel heist at the Louvre, keeping up with this year’s news also left some Americans struggling with pronunciations. That’s put both the name of New York City’s incoming mayor and the famed Paris museum on a list of the most mispronounced words in 2025.

President’s rule would have been imposed in West Bengal had we not gone ahead with SIR says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (December 4, 2025) said that had her government not gone ahead with Special Intensive Revision (SIR) then President rule would have been imposed in the State. “If we had not allowed the SIR, they would have imposed President’s rule without voting. Do you understand Amit Shah’s trick? We are not that stupid, Babumoshai, Godibhai! We will do it, we will fight. We will win and show it,” Ms. Banerjee said while addressing a public meeting in State’s Murshidabad district.

On VC appointments, Governor agrees to name objected to by Kerala CM

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar conveyed to the Supreme Court on Thursday (December 4, 2025) his preference for the appointments of Dr. Ciza Thomas and Dr. Priya Chandran as Vice Chancellors of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technological University and the Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology, respectively.

Norris faces nerve-shredding three-way scrap to claim maiden title

Lando Norris will battle his own nerves as much as his rivals’ speed as he bids to end Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as F1 world champion in Sunday’s (December 7, 2025) season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After two weekends of self-inflicted setbacks, championship leader Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri need an error-free event to ensure Red Bull’s number one cannot complete a spectacular end-of-season recovery in glorious style.