India's aviation sector faced significant disruption for a fourth consecutive day as budget carrier IndiGo continued to grapple with massive flight cancellations and delays, stranding thousands of passengers across major airports. In a bid to resolve the crisis, the central government has taken the decisive step of temporarily suspending newly implemented flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules for pilots.
Government Intervenes to Stabilise IndiGo Operations
The Ministry of Civil Aviation placed the recently introduced FDTL norms in abeyance, aiming to provide immediate relief to the airline's strained operations. Officials expressed confidence that this temporary suspension would allow IndiGo to fully stabilise its flight schedule by Monday. The new rules, designed to enhance pilot rest periods, were cited as a contributing factor to the airline's sudden shortage of available crew, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights over the past four days. The situation has caused widespread passenger inconvenience, with long queues and chaotic scenes reported at airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Modi and Putin Strengthen "North Star" Partnership
On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, hailed the India-Russia relationship as a "North Star" in a rapidly changing world. The two leaders unveiled a comprehensive, long-term economic cooperation programme that will run until 2030. This ambitious roadmap is designed to deepen bilateral ties across several strategic sectors, including energy, defence, connectivity, and industrial collaboration. The agreement also focuses on diversifying trade and increasing mutual investment, reinforcing a commitment to global peace and stability amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.
Haryana Murder Case Reveals Psychopathic Tendencies
In a chilling development from Haryana, police revealed disturbing details in the so-called 'killer mother' case. The accused woman, identified as Poonam, allegedly drowned four children, including her own son. Investigators stated that her motive stemmed from a twisted compulsion to eliminate any child she perceived as "more beautiful than her own." While some family members speculated about occult influences or spirit possession, authorities firmly dismissed these claims. Police described Poonam as exhibiting clear psychopathic tendencies and a severe mental disorder, noting a complete lack of remorse for her horrific actions.
Other Major Headlines:
Home Loan Rates to Hit Record Low: Borrowers in India can anticipate relief as home loan interest rates are projected to fall to a historic low of 7.1%. This drop, following recent rate cuts, is expected to stimulate demand in the housing market and provide a significant boost to the real estate sector nationwide.
Ticket Chaos at Barabati Stadium: Massive crowds caused chaos at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium during offline ticket sales for the upcoming India vs South Africa T20 International. Viral videos showed fans breaking queues and rushing past security barriers in a frantic scramble to secure tickets.
