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The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a long-anticipated plan to provide Ukraine with a multibillion-euro loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets. This move is framed as both an economic lifeline for Kyiv and a geopolitical message to Moscow that prolonging war will carry escalating costs. Image Source: Visegrad24 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc is aiming to provide €90 billion to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s estimated funding needs for 2026 and 2027, using a dual structure: EU market borrowing and cash balances generated by Russian assets immobilised in European financial institutions. “Pressure is the only language the Kremlin responds to,” von der Leyen told reporters. “We want peace, but peace must come from a position of strength.” The proposal, released ahead of a decisive EU summit later this month, comes amid signs of deadlock in international peace efforts.  Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Wednesday that President V...

IndiGo, among India’s largest airline by market share, issued a formal apology on Wednesday following severe disruptions across its network, attributing the delays and cancellations to a combination of operational challenges that have unfolded over the past 48 hours.  Crazy scenes at Mumbai Airport. Pic Via: Jagriti Chandra The airline said it had taken corrective steps to stabilise operations and ease passenger inconvenience. In a statement, IndiGo acknowledged the scale of the disruption, which impacted flights at major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.  The airline said it was grappling with “a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges,” including minor technology failures, congestion at airports, adverse winter weather, and new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules that affected crew scheduling. IndiGo’s admission follows days of growing passenger frustration, as delays mounted and services ground to a near-halt in several locations.  Da...

Air India on Tuesday issued a nationwide travel advisory after a disruption in a third-party system used for check-in operations triggered widespread delays across multiple airports and airlines.  Image Source: Aviationbrk The airline urged passengers to confirm their flight status online and allow extra time before heading to the airport, citing ongoing efforts to stabilise services. In a post on X, Air India confirmed that the disruption had affected "check-in systems at various airports," impacting its own flights along with those of other carriers.  The advisory stressed that while system recovery was underway, delays could persist until full restoration. The airline added that airport teams were working "diligently" to assist passengers and minimise inconvenience. The glitch underscores the vulnerabilities in aviation infrastructure reliant on outsourced operational technologies.  Airlines around the world commonly depend on third-party platforms for check-in...

Russian President Vladimir Putin used a high-profile international investment forum in Moscow to reinforce his country’s defiant economic narrative and shift in geopolitical orientation, positioning India and China as key pillars of Russia’s external economic strategy.  At the same time, in a parallel engagement, Putin reviewed efforts to rebuild the conflict-affected Kursk region, linking local revival with broader themes of national resilience and historical memory. Addressing foreign investors and delegates at the 16th VTB Investment Forum and the “Russia Calling!” plenary, Putin laid out an assertive economic vision grounded in sovereignty, self-reliance, and what he described as the rejection of “anti-competitive practices” by Western powers.  He accused Western nations of attempting to preserve global dominance through “non-market restrictions” and reiterated that Russia would continue to pursue independent economic policies, deepen trade with non-Western partners, and a...

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, in a wide-ranging address after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, issued a sharp assessment of shifting global power structures and warned that traditional rules of engagement are giving way to more fragmented, unilateral approaches led by major powers, chiefly the United States. Image Source: EAM Jaishankar Describing a world where “politics increasingly trumps economics,” Jaishankar noted that Washington, long seen as the architect and underwriter of the global rules-based order, is now dealing with nations bilaterally rather than through established multilateral frameworks.  “The United States has set radically new terms of engagement,” he said, adding that China has similarly continued to act by its own rules, intensifying the global trend toward power-based realignments. In this emerging landscape, the minister said, decisions are no longer made purely on economic efficiency b...

India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing after a UK-based Indian woman, originally from Arunachal Pradesh, was reportedly detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport by Chinese immigration officials who refused to recognise her Indian passport.  The episode has escalated tensions between the two countries, with New Delhi asserting that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India. Image Source: Romita Romi on X The traveller, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, was en route from London to Japan with a transit stop in Shanghai on November 21 when Chinese officials flagged her Indian passport as “invalid” due to her Arunachal Pradesh birthplace.  She described the ordeal as deeply distressing, noting that she was held without formal documentation and was unable to contact her embassy or family due to China’s ban on social media platforms and search engines. PTI: An Indian woman hailing from Arunachal Pradesh has said that sh...

European leaders have issued a unified but cautious response to the newly revealed 28-point United States peace proposal for Ukraine, voicing support for diplomatic efforts while warning that the current framework is deeply flawed and risks undermining both Ukrainian sovereignty and European security.  Image Source: Zelenskyy The plan, widely reported to have been crafted by the Trump-led administration, has alarmed key capitals across the EU and G7 due to its heavy concessions to Russia, including recognition of annexed territories and long-term restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Washington’s engagement but asserted that the proposal must be significantly strengthened.  “No border can be changed by force, and Ukraine must never be left vulnerable,” Macron said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this view, stating that while the draft contains elements essential to a future settlement, any agreeme...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sweeping call for a reimagined development agenda at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg , setting out six major global initiatives and pressing for a “civilisational” rethink of growth models that leave people and the planet behind.  Image Source: PM NaMo Speaking at the summit’s opening session, Modi urged the world’s largest economies to act collectively to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and secure progress —anchored in equity, knowledge-sharing and resilience. In his address, Modi pitched for rethinking global development parameters, arguing that the current frameworks have left large sections of the world deprived and have led to the overexploitation of nature.  Drawing from India's philosophical ethos of Integral Humanism , he said development must harmonise individuals, societies and ecosystems, and cannot be dictated solely by economic metrics. Modi proposed six transformative initiatives. These include a Global T...

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese held a high-level meeting in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit , reaffirming their commitment to the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership , which marks its fifth anniversary this year.  Image Source: MEA India Both leaders welcomed the significant progress made across a wide spectrum of cooperation, describing bilateral ties as “substantially deepened and diversified.” Had a very good meeting with PM Albanese of Australia. This year, the strategic partnership between our nations completes 5 years and these years have witnessed transformative outcomes that have deepened our cooperation. During our talks today, emphasised three key sectors,… pic.twitter.com/SjPixu4iek — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2025 The two leaders reviewed ongoing collaboration in key areas including defence and security, critical minerals, trade and investment, education, and people-to-people linkag...