Air India reinstates codeshare partnership with Air Canada
INDIA BUSINESS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 7:54AM IST
For now, this is Air Indias only codeshare partnership with a North American carrier
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50m
At G20, PM Modi calls for stronger cooperation on disaster preparedness
INDIA MARKET | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 7:48AM IST
Pointing to the rising frequency and impact of natural disasters worldwide, he described them as a major challenge for humanity
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55m
G20 leaders resist US peace plan for Ukraine
INDIA NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 7:44AM IST
Leaders of some of the world's most powerful countries pushed back on demands that Ukraine cede territory and limit the size of its army included in President Donald Trump's latest proposal to end the war with Russia. But they said they believed the plan provided a basis for further negotiations, according to a joint statement released after they met in Johannesburg on Saturday.The proposal, a 28-point plan, calls for Ukrainian concessions already largely rejected by the country's president and allies. Trump gave President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine until Thursday to agree to the plan, though he said Saturday the plan was "not my final offer" and suggested that the deadline could be extended should progress be made in negotiations.It remained unclear Saturday how much wiggle room Ukraine and its European allies would have to change the proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, will head to Geneva on Sunday, where they are expected to meet senior Ukrainian officials to discuss Kyiv's response to the American proposal, a U.S. official said Saturday.Even before the latest proposal was made public last week, Ukraine's allies in Europe and across the globe faced pressure to show they could get Ukraine the economic and military support it needs to continue battling Russia should the United States cease its contributions. Germany, which is already Ukraine's largest military backer in Europe, this month pledged an additional $3.5 billion in assistance for next year, and France and Sweden recently pledged hundreds of new fighter jets.Though couched in diplomatic language, public statements from European leaders about the new proposal, including at Saturday's G20 meeting, made clear that their support for Ukraine was unwavering, whatever the pressure from the White House. In a joint statement adopted Saturday the leaders of 11 nations -- including Germany, France, Britain, Japan and Canada -- and the European Union said the 28-point plan included "important elements that will be essential for a just and lasting peace."But they also made clear that they took issue with provisions of the plan that would strip Ukraine of territory and limit the size of its armed forces."What is at stake is Ukrainian sovereignty and European security," President Emmanuel Macron of France said Saturday, adding that European countries would work with the Ukrainians over the next two days to create a plan for the way forward."Our problem is not the U.S.," Macron told reporters at the G20 summit. "Our unique problem -- all of us -- is Russia, who started this war, who refused to take the ceasefire proposals."How much influence European leaders might have at this point in the war is unclear. Together with Ukraine, they have been cut out of the deliberations that produced this latest proposal. In the past though, Europe's unified support of Kyiv together with the stubborn refusal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to back down from his maximalist demands have been enough to at least preserve the status quo and keep Ukraine in the fight.Macron said negotiating teams from the European Union, Germany, Britain and France would meet with American and Ukrainian negotiators in Geneva "to be able to bring substance back to the table and reconcile all these views." This will be followed by a meeting of the "coalition of the willing," a group of more than 30 countries supporting Ukraine, he said.Saturday's meeting took place on the sidelines of the Group of 20 heads of state summit, an annual gathering that brings together leaders of the world's largest economies to try to agree on shared ambitions on the most pressing global issues. The United States did not send a delegation; Trump said he was boycotting it because of his belief that South Africa was persecuting its white minority.But all other countries and regional bodies belonging to the group sent delegations, and they quickly released a declaration agreed upon by most of them, including Russia. It included a call that "all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition," and for an agreement to work toward peace in several conflicts, including the war in Ukraine.The 28-point plan was worked out between Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, and Witkoff, to the exclusion of Ukraine and Europe. It calls for Ukraine to surrender significant territory, including land that Russia does not already occupy. It also calls for a limit on the size of Ukraine's military, and prohibits its membership in NATO and the presence of NATO troops in the country.Putin has said the plan could "serve as a foundation for a final peace agreement."As the war approaches the start of its fifth year, Zelenskyy has acknowledged that Ukraine is under pressure like never before, and not just because of Trump's demands.On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces are steadily losing ground, though they are inflicting severe costs on the Russians in lives and materiel. Politically, Zelenskyy's government is facing accusations of large-scale corruption by senior officials and must contend with increasingly vociferous calls from his opponents for a significant response.But while polls show that Ukrainians are much more supportive of a negotiated settlement today than at the war's start, many officials, commentators and Ukrainians across the country have described Trump's latest proposal as tantamount to capitulation. Faced with Trump's Thursday deadline, Zelenskyy has begun to prepare his people for what he has suggested could be an existential decision."Ukraine may find itself facing a very tough choice," Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation Friday. "Either the loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely hard winter -- the hardest yet -- and the dangers that follow."In Johannesburg on Saturday, the G20 gathering put supporters of Ukraine in the same room with a Russian delegation led by a top deputy of Putin, who did not attend because he faced an international arrest warrant.Antnio Costa, the president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, held a call with Zelenskyy on Friday night, and after that met with Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni. On Saturday morning, they met with Macron.The larger meeting Saturday included the leaders of Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy and Spain.In remarks Friday, von der Leyen said, "Ukraine can count on us because this is not only an aggression against Ukraine, but it is an aggression against the principles of the U.N. charter," referring to the United Nations."It's on European soil," she added. "Therefore, we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes."
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1h
India, Brazil affirm working to boost trade
INDIA NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 7:26AM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and reaffirmed that India and Brazil will continue to work closely to strengthen bilateral relations."It is always a delight to meet President Lula. India and Brazil will continue to work closely to boost trade and cultural linkages for the benefit of our people," PM Modi said in a post on X.Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister emphasised that global developmental parameters need to be revisited, especially as Africa hosts the G20 Summit for the first time.He highlighted that India's civilisational values, particularly the principle of Integral Humanism, offer guidance for inclusive and sustainable growth.In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "Spoke at the first session of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, which focused on inclusive and sustainable growth. With Africa hosting the G20 Summit for the first time, NOW is the right moment for us to revisit our development parameters and focus on growth that is inclusive and sustainable. India's civilisational values, especially the principle of Integral Humanism, offer a way forward."He further outlined actionable measures aimed at achieving all-round development. "I proposed a few actionables to realise our dream of all-round growth. First among them is the creation of a G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository. India has a rich history in this regard. This will help us pass on our collective wisdom to further good health and wellbeing. Africa's progress is vital for global progress. India has always stood in solidarity with Africa. I am proud of the fact that it was during India's G20 Presidency that the African Union became a permanent G20 member. Taking forward this spirit, India proposes a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative. Our collective goal should be to create 1 million certified trainers in Africa within the next decade," he added.
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1h
Piyush Goyal concludes 'successful' Israel visit
INDIA NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 7:00AM IST
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday (local time) described his three-day visit to Israel as "very successful," noting that both industry leaders and government representatives in Israel have expressed strong enthusiasm for further strengthening bilateral ties with India.Goyal highlighted that India and Israel have finalised and signed the Terms of Reference, paving the way for formal negotiations on a proposed free trade agreement between the two nations."It was a very successful three-day visit to Israel. There is a great deal of enthusiasm in the industry and the government to further strengthen relations with India. As a result, we finalised and signed the Terms of Reference, which will now begin negotiations for a free trade agreement. I also held separate discussions with several technology companies. At the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation, we saw how Israel, taking every disaster as a challenge, has worked to benefit from it. It has turned it into an opportunity, and from that, whether it is in the field of security, health, or electronics technology, it has achieved remarkable innovations and success in various fields," Piyush Goyal told reporters.Piyush Goyal also highlighted the long conversation he had with Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat. He said that discussions on further steps to enhance economic ties between India and Israel were held. Goyal informed that his Israeli counterpart agreed to visit India with a large business delegation.The Union Minister also expressed confidence that his visit would increase bilateral trade between Israel and India."Yesterday, I had a very long conversation with the Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel, Nir Barkat, who oversees international trade. We discussed in great detail what further steps will be taken to enhance economic ties. Both sides discussed this, and he expressed great satisfaction with the Israelis' visit to India with a large delegation, a business delegation, and now with the Indian delegation visiting Israel. He expressed great satisfaction with the success of both," Goyal said.The Union Minister further noted that his visit comes after a two-decade gap since the last visit by an Indian Commerce Minister, expressing confidence that the renewed engagement will significantly boost bilateral trade, innovation partnerships, and investment flows between India and Israel."Tomorrow, I have a meeting with high-level Israeli leaders; I will share the details with you after the meeting. But in every way, it was a very successful visit. It's been 20 years since a Commerce Minister visited, and I hope this visit will increase bilateral trade between Israel and India. Our relationship in innovation, research, and development will improve, and in the future, there will be a significant surge in investment between the two countries," he added.Earlier on Saturday, Piyush Goyal held a series of wide-ranging engagements during his official visit to Israel, further strengthening bilateral cooperation across agriculture, technology, innovation and trade.During his meetings on Friday (November 21), Minister Piyush Goyal met with Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, for a detailed discussion on advancing agricultural collaboration.Minister Dichter briefed Indian minister Goyal on Israel's 25-year food security roadmap, its advanced seed-improvement strategies, and the country's global leadership in water-reuse technologies for agriculture.As part of his engagements, Minister Goyal visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, where he was apprised of Israel's pioneering technological ecosystem, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
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1h
G20 sends strong message on disaster resilience, debt, minerals: MEA
INDIA MARKET | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 6:30AM IST
The concerns and priorities of Africa were prominently reflected in the G20 South Africa Summit Leaders' Declaration, adopted by member countries, said Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations)
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2h
Several international airlines cancel their flights in Venezuela after US warning
INDIA BUSINESS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 6:23AM IST
Several international airlines have halted flights from Venezuela. This follows a warning from U.S. aviation authorities about potential dangers in the country's airspace. Increased military presence and security concerns are cited as reasons for the cancellations. Airlines are monitoring the situation to determine when flights can resume.
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2h
US to launch new phase of Venezuela ops
INDIA NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 6:17AM IST
The United States is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.Reuters was not able to establish the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump had made a final decision to act. Reports of looming action have proliferated in recent weeks as the U.S. military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela.Two of the U.S. officials said covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro. All four officials quoted in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of impending action by the United States.The Pentagon referred questions to the White House. The CIA declined to comment.A senior administration official on Saturday did not rule anything out regarding Venezuela."President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro's role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. He has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.Two U.S. officials told Reuters the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro.Maduro, in power since 2013, has contended that Trump seeks to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any such attempt.The Venezuelan president, who will celebrate his 63rd birthday on Sunday, appeared on Saturday night at Caracas' main theater for the premiere of a television series based on his life.A military buildup in the Caribbean has been underway for months, and Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday warned major airlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuela and urged them to exercise caution.Three international airlines cancelled flights departing from Venezuela on Saturday after the FAA warning.The United States plans on Monday to designate the Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States, officials said. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading Cartel de los Soles, which he denies.HEGSETH: NEW OPTIONS AFTER TERRORIST DESIGNATIONU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the terrorist designation "brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States."Trump has said the upcoming designation would allow the United States to strike Maduro's assets and infrastructure in Venezuela, but he also has indicated a willingness to potentially pursue talks in hopes of a diplomatic solution.Two U.S. officials acknowledged conversations between Caracas and Washington. It was unclear whether those conversations could impact the timing or scale of the U.S. operations.The U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, joining at least seven other warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft.U.S. forces in the region so far have focused on counter-narcotics operations, even though the assembled firepower far outweighs anything needed for them. U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people.Human rights groups have condemned the strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some U.S. allies have expressed growing concerns that Washington may be violating international law.Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.The U.S. military dwarfs Venezuela's, which is debilitated by a lack of training, low wages and deteriorating equipment. Some unit commanders have been forced to negotiate with local food producers to feed their troops because government supplies fall short, Reuters has reported.That reality has led Maduro's government to consider alternative strategies in the event of a U.S. invasion, including possibly a guerrilla-style response, which the government has termed "prolonged resistance" and mentioned in broadcasts on state television.This approach would involve small military units at more than 280 locations carrying out acts of sabotage and other guerrilla tactics, Reuters has reported, citing sources and years-old planning documents. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Craig Timberg, Sergio Non and Diane Craft)
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2h
Consumer companies hold back price hikes amid cost pressures and post-GST scrutiny
INDIA BUSINESS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 5:30AM IST
Consumer goods companies are delaying routine price hikes despite a rise in input costs, as they fear scrutiny after recent GST rate cuts. Firms in categories such as soaps, biscuits, detergents, automobiles and electronics are seeking clarity from the government through industry bodies before making any pricing decisions.
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3h
Hotel chains eye permanent placements in university towns
INDIA BUSINESS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 5:30AM IST
Radisson Hotel Group, which operates in Manipal and near the Symbiosis campus in Pune, says performance in these micro-markets has been consistently robust. Universities function as strong economic anchors, creating reliable, year-round business, said Nikhil Sharma, MD & COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.
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3h
Wicked: For Good Takes Flight at Box Office, Expected to Make Over $150 Million
GLOBAL NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 3:06AM IST
The movie is expected to take in about $151.5 million from Friday through Sunday, earning 35 percent more than the first installment last year.
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5h
GLOBAL NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 3:06AM IST
The movie is expected to take in about $151.5 million from Friday through Sunday, earning 35 percent more than the first installment last year.
Continue reading at The New York Times
5h
A.I. Toy Bear Speaks of Sex, Knives and Pills, Consumer Group Warns
GLOBAL NEWS | Sun, 23 Nov 2025, 2:40AM IST
The chatter left startled adults unsure whether they heard correctly. Testers warned that interactive toys like this one could allow children to stray into inappropriate exchanges.
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