NEW DELHI: The Directorate general of Civil Aviation on Wednesday launched a probe into the disruptions caused in IndiGo’s network.DGCA has asked the airline to report to its headquarters and present the facts leading to the current situation.

“The inconvenience caused to passengers is regretted. Travellers are advised to verify flight status through official channels before departure. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is currently investigating the situation and evaluating measures along with the airline, to reduce cancellations and delays, in order to minimise inconvenience being caused to passengers,” DGCA said in a press note.“Indigo has been asked to report to DGCA, Headquarters, to present the facts leading to the current situation along with plans to mitigate the ongoing delays & cancellations,” it added.According to the press note, the airline told DGCA that “a total of 1,232 flights were cancelled.” Out of the total cancellations, 755 were attributed to crew constraints and 92 to ATC-related failures.Also read: ’48hrs to fix flight chaos’: IndiGo offers update; what’s causing disruption“A large share of cancellations arose from crew / FDTL compliance and airport/ airspace ATC-related factors, many of which lie beyond the operator’s direct control,” the press note said.This comes as IndiGo is witnessing massive flight delays and some cancellations due to a crippling crew shortage.Government data shows only 35% IndiGo flights (the airline operates over 2,200 daily) operated on time Tuesday (Dec 2). And on Wednesday, multiple airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru reported almost 200 flight cancellations till the afternoon itself.Meanwhile, the airline apologised for disruptions, saying it regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers.The airline said the delays and cancellations stemmed from a combination of unexpected operational problems.In an official statement, IndiGo said minor technical glitches, winter schedule adjustments, adverse weather, heavy airport congestion and updated crew rostering rules collectively weakened operations in a way the airline claims it could not have foreseen.

Putin is making his first diplomatic visit to India since the conflict in Ukraine started. (AI image)

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit this week is being closely watched by the world – what will it mean for India’s trade dynamics with both Russia and the US. Will India bring down its crude oil imports from Russia or look to maintain its autonomy while navigating pressure from US President Donald Trump? The answer is not straightforward – laced in geopolitical, economic and diplomatic issues!Putin is making his first diplomatic visit to India since the conflict in Ukraine started, marking a crucial diplomatic milestone amidst complex geopolitical circumstances. Discounted Russian crude has reshaped India’s energy security but deepened its exposure to sanctions and geopolitical risk, says Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative.The visit occurs at a complex time. India faces continuous US pressure regarding its Russian oil purchases whilst being urged to increase access for American products and defence equipment in its markets.“Putin’s visit is not a nostalgic return to Cold War diplomacy. It is a negotiation over risk, supply chains and economic insulation. A modest outcome will secure oil and defence; an ambitious one will reshape regional economics. The visit is ultimately not about choosing sides—but about managing dependence in a fractured world,” GTRI says.History explains the resilience of the partnership. During the Cold War, the United States backed Pakistan and deployed the USS Enterprise during the 1971 war. The Soviet Union responded with weapons support and diplomatic shielding at the United Nations. Moscow stood by India after its 1962 war with China, provided repeated diplomatic backing over Kashmir, and remained a defence partner after India’s 1998 nuclear tests brought Western sanctions. “ Over decades, Russia transferred strategic technologies the West withheld. Even today, about 60–70% of India’s military platforms remain of Russian origin. The partnership was built in conflict, not commerce,” the think tank says.Also Read | Trump sanctions: India’s crude imports from Russia at 5-month high – can it continue?According to GTRI, India’s current engagement with Russia rests on three pillars—energy, defence and diplomacy. Energy now dominates the relationship.Russia has become India’s largest crude oil supplier, accounting for as much as 30–35% of total oil imports, turning discounted crude into the foundation of the partnership. Defence forms the second pillar. Russia continues to supply and service a majority of India’s frontline platforms—fighter jets, submarines, tanks and air defence systems—and talks continue on maintenance support and future acquisitions. The third pillar is diplomatic coordination through multilaterals including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the Eastern Economic Forum, alongside cooperation in nuclear power, space exploration, fertilizers and connectivity.Even as India deepens relations with Washington, Brussels and Tokyo, it treats Moscow as essential to its strategic autonomy, notes GTRI.

India’s Growing Imports of Russian Crude Oil

Russia has emerged as India’s main oil supplier, making up approximately one-third of total crude imports in 2024. A substantial increase in India’s expenditure on Russian oil is evident, rising from $2.3bn in 2021 to $52.7bn in 2024 – a significant shift in energy procurement patterns.

India’s Crude Oil Imports-US$ Billion

Financial sanctions have necessitated alternative payment arrangements. Following Russia’s partial SWIFT exclusion, payments now involve multiple currencies: dirhams (60-65%), rupees (25-30%), and yuan (5-10%). Approximately ₹60,000 crore in rupees remain largely unutilised in dedicated Indian accounts. Russian preference has shifted towards UAE dirham settlements, offering better spending and conversion flexibility. Yuan transactions occur periodically. While functional, this arrangement remains susceptible to instability and political pressures.“In energy, New Delhi is expected to pursue long-term crude contracts with Non US sanctioned Russian firms like Lukoil and Roseneft, revival of Indian investments in Russian energy projects, and advancement of nuclear cooperation beyond Kudankulam. Cooperation in critical minerals, manufacturing and maritime connectivity linking India with Russia’s Far East may also be discussed,” says GTRI.Also Read | India’s love for Russian oil continues? State refiners pick non-sanctioned crude at higher discounts; but will Moscow remain top supplier?

India-Russia: Trade & Defence Dynamics

GTRI points out the defence relationship remains vital, as approximately two-thirds of India’s military equipment comes from Russia, linking operational capability to Russian components and modernisation programmes.Indian defence officials plan to request faster delivery of additional S-400 Triumf systems whilst seeking assurances regarding maintenance and upgrades for Russian-origin equipment. Discussions about the Su-57 stealth fighter are anticipated, though primarily as a long-term prospect rather than immediate acquisition.India’s exports to Russia stand at approximately $5bn annually, whilst imports, primarily energy-related, reach nearly $64bn. India’s export footprint in Russia is narrow, with pharmaceuticals and machinery strong but garments, electronics and consumer goods negligible. Payments are increasingly de-dollarised, routed through UAE dirhams, rupees and yuan, reflecting the workaround economy created by sanctions, says GTRI.Trade figures between India and Russia show a significant imbalance, with limited export expansion but substantial energy-focused imports. Indian exports increased from $4.3 billion in FY24 to $4.9 billion in FY25, achieving $2.25 billion during April-September 2025.The exports concentrate primarily on industrial and chemical products, with machinery ($367.8 million), pharmaceuticals ($246 million), and organic chemicals ($165.8 million) constituting the main share in FY26’s first half. Other sectors show minimal presence: smartphones ($75.9 million), Vannamei shrimp ($75.7 million), meat ($63 million), and garments ($20.94 million), reflecting India’s restricted access to Russian consumer markets and electronics sectors despite strategic shifts.Russian imports maintain their dominance, reaching $63.2 billion in FY24 and $63.8 billion in FY25, with April-September 2025 recording $31.2 billion. The import composition heavily features petroleum, specifically crude oil ($23.1 billion) and petroleum products ($2.5 billion), alongside coal ($1.9 billion). Essential imports include fertilisers ($1.3 billion), sunflower seed oil ($633 million), and diamonds ($202 million).This creates an unbalanced trading relationship where India depends on Russia for crucial energy resources and raw materials whilst facing challenges in expanding its value-added exports, creating a trade dynamic susceptible to international commodity price fluctuations.

What will be the outcome of Putin’s India visit?

GTRI envisions two scenarios as outcomes of Putin’s visit to India:The most likely outcome is a cautious strengthening of existing ties. India could secure firm timelines on defence deliveries, maintenance contracts, and technology upgrades for aircraft, tanks and submarines. Russia, in turn, may lock in long-term energy commitments—including revived Indian equity in LNG fields, multi-year crude supply agreements, and accelerated nuclear plant construction, says GTRI. The two countries may also formalize a new payment framework using the dirham or integrate Russia’s SPFS system with India’s RuPay network. This scenario stabilizes the relationship without significantly raising diplomatic costs, it says.The more ambitious alternative would mark a deeper realignment. “India and Russia could agree on joint production of defence equipment, Indian investment in Russian oil and gas projects such as Arctic LNG 2 or Vostok, and expansion of nuclear cooperation beyond existing reactors,” says the think tank. “Connectivity initiatives like the Chennai–Vladivostok corridor or nodes of the International North–South Transport Corridor could also gain momentum. A structured settlement framework could be unveiled to reduce idle rupee balances. This scenario would reshape India’s Eurasian integration—but potentially provoke sharper Western response,” it adds.“Beyond optics, the summit is about securing fuel, weapons and payments against a world of financial and political fragmentation. For India, the challenge is strategic balance—protecting autonomy while navigating pressure from Washington and dependence on Moscow,” concludes GTRI.

NEW DELHI: The results of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-elections were declared on Tuesday, with the BJP winning 7 of the 12 seats, AAP securing 3, Congress 1 and the All India Forward Bloc opening its account with a victory in Chandni Mahal.With this outcome, the BJP now holds 122 seats in the 250-member House, remaining four short of the majority mark. AAP’s tally stands at 102, Congress at 9, while the All India Forward Bloc has 1. The Indraprastha Vikas Party (IVP), which did not contest the bypolls, continues to have 16 councillors.A major upset for AAP came from Chandni Mahal, a seat the party had won with the highest margin in the 2022 MCD polls but where it slipped to third position this time. Mohammad Imran, backed by former MLA and ex-AAP leader Shoaib Iqbal, won the seat by 4,592 votes, marking Forward Bloc’s entry into the MCD. The seat had fallen vacant after AAP’s Aaley Iqbal Mohammad won the Matia Mahal Assembly seat in February. AAP fielded Muddasir Usman Qureshi, while BJP nominated Sunil Sharma. Shoaib Iqbal, who quit AAP on November 9 after being denied a ticket for his preferred candidate, campaigned actively for Imran.The BJP, which previously held 9 of the 12 seats, managed to retain only 7—seen as a setback for the party. It lost Sangam Vihar-A and Mundka, both attributed to public resentment against local BJP MLAs. In Sangam Vihar-A, the seat vacated by BJP’s Chandan Choudhary after her election to the Assembly, Congress candidate Suresh Chaudhary won by 3,268 votes. AAP secured the Mundka seat amid discontent over BJP MLA Gajendra Daral. The party also won Naraina, where it campaigned against the BJP for fielding an “outsider.”Meanwhile, BJP candidate Anita Jain registered the largest victory margin of the bypolls—10,101 votes—from Shalimar Bagh-B. The seat was earlier held by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who resigned after winning the Assembly polls. In Greater Kailash, BJP’s Anjum Mandal won by 365 votes.The BJP also reclaimed the Chandni Chowk seat from AAP, winning by 1,182 votes.In the 2022 civic elections, AAP had emerged as the single largest party with 134 seats, but the political landscape shifted ahead of the April 2025 mayoral polls when 16 AAP councillors defected to form the Indraprastha Vikas Party, giving the BJP a crucial numerical advantage in the House.

Bias remains positive for the month amid volatility that could persist in the current week ahead of the all important US Fed meet on 10th Dec. (AI image)

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices may continue to trade with a positive bias this month, though some volatility is expected, says Maneesh Sharma, AVP – Commodities & Currencies, Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers. He shares his views and recommendations for gold and silver investors:Bullion’s witnessed a positive outgoing week as the Silver price roared from below $50 to around $58.85 per troy ounce in spot driven by persistent shortage of white metal in global markets and soaring rate cut expectations. The rise in the price of Silver thus eclipsed that of Gold with the Gold/Silver ratio subsequently falling to an annual low of just over 73. Silver inventories registered on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell to their lowest level in 10 years, and those on the Shanghai Gold Exchange to their lowest level in more than nine years last week being triggered by China’s record exports of 660 tons in October. These apparently went to London, where shortages had occurred in October. The Silver ETFs tracked by Bloomberg recorded inflows of a good 290 tons in last week, which withdrew supply from the market and is also likely to have contributed to the price increase.Data released from the World Gold council also showed that Central bank demand for gold remained robust in October, totalling 53t (+36% m/m) and continuing the strong trend seen throughout the year. Buying remained concentrated among a small number of central banks, led by the National Bank of Poland which became active again during the month.Data on Monday also showed US manufacturing contracted for the ninth straight month in November. Investors are now looking out for Wednesday’s November ADP employment report and Friday’s delayed September PCE Index, for clues on a Fed interest rate cut at the central bank’s meeting next week. Traders are currently pricing in an 87% chance of a December Fed rate cut, per CME’s FedWatch tool. Markets are also waiting on President Donald Trump’s announcement of the new Federal Reserve chairman, with White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett reportedly emerging as a frontrunner. Hassett, like Trump, favors lower interest rates.

Gold Price Outlook:

Bias remains positive for the month amid volatility that could persist in the current week ahead of the all important US Fed meet on 10th Dec.Weekly Bias:Gold: Sideways, Silver: VolatileRate-cut expectations drove a lot of the move in bullions complex last week as traders priced in nearly 90 % odds of a December cut with Fed officials, including Christopher Waller & John Williams, reinforced the dovish narrative while Silver rose on thin liquidity as supply tightness drove the market.Going ahead for the week, the main trend remains up for the bullions complex though volatility amid profit booking moves could also persist especially for Silver prices. A weaker dollar could provide support at lower levels with the dollar index settling at 99.479, down 0.72% on last week. Traders could also monitor any announcement of potential tariff on silver after the precious metal was added to the US Geological Survey list of critical minerals in November. While 75 million ounces have left the vaults of the Comex futures exchange in New York since early October, fears of a sudden premium for US silver could keep some traders to hesitate before shipping metal out of the country keeping sentiments volatile for Silver prices.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Analysts believe that In the near term, major resistance for the Nifty is placed at 26,325. (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened flat in trade on Wednesday on weak global cues. While Nifty50 was above 26,000, BSE Sensex was near 85,100. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 26,010.65, down 22 points or 0.083%. BSE Sensex was at 85,116.06, down 22 points or 0.026%.Analysts believe that In the near term, major resistance for the Nifty is placed at 26,325. Until the index persists below this level, any bounce should be used for profit booking, they say.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Nifty’s correction of about 300 points from the record high can be seen as a correction driven by technical factors like rejig in the Bank Nifty and the concerns arising from the continued depreciation of the rupee. Rejig in the Bank Nifty and the consequent reduction in the weight of HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are pure technical factors that have nothing to do with the fundamentals of these stocks. With improving credit growth in the economy and strong fundamentals of these banking majors, they will bounce back in due course. A real concern now, which has contributed to the slow drifting down of the market, is the continued depreciation in the rupee and fears of further depreciation since the RBI is not intervening to support the rupee. This concern is forcing the FIIs to sell despite the improving fundamentals of rising corporate earnings and strong rebound in GDP growth.” “The rupee depreciation will halt and even reverse when the India-US trade deal materialises. This is likely this month. A lot, however, will depend on the details of the tariffs to be imposed on India as part of the deal. The ideal strategy for investors in this period of uncertainty is to remain invested in high quality growth stocks in the large and midcap segments. Smallcaps, as a segment, continue to be overvalued and are, therefore, best avoided.”US equities finished higher, marking their sixth positive close in seven sessions during quiet trading on Tuesday. Technology shares led the advance amid strong expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts next week.Asian stocks were flat on Wednesday, reflecting similar patterns on Wall Street, as investors sought new market drivers whilst cryptocurrency recovery lost momentum.Gold prices stayed flat following a 1% decline in the previous session, as rising equities and stable Treasury yields continued to affect the metal whilst traders awaited crucial US economic indicators for insights on potential rate reductions later this week.Foreign portfolio investors recorded net sales of Rs 3,642 crore on Tuesday. Domestic institutional investors registered net purchases of Rs 4,646 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

‘Tere Ishk Mein’ is emerging as a full-blown box office triumph. The Anand L Rai directorial, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, has lived up to its pre-release momentum and is now racing toward the coveted Rs 100 crore net mark at the Indian box office.Tere Ishk Mein Movie Review

Day 5 box office collections

According to early estimates from Sacnilk, the film collected an impressive Rs 10.25 crore net collection on Day 5. Of the total collections, it was reported that an estimated Rs 9.50-10 crore was collected from the Hindi version alone. Tuesday’s collections saw good growth from Monday’s collections which was estimated to be around Rs 8.25 crore. The movie saw a nearly 50% dip in collections on Monday, after recording its highest numbers on Sunday, by raking in Rs 18.25 crore.

Total India net collections

The film that was off to an impressive start at the box office, earning an estimated Rs 50 crore on its opening weekend, has seemingly kept the momentum going. ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ has now climbed its way to an estimated total collection of Rs 71 crore India net. As per the report, the film has earned an all-India gross collection of Rs 84.25 crore.The film has also shown strong performance overseas, adding Rs 7.25 crore, from international markets. This has taken its worldwide 5-day total to an estimated Rs 91.5 crore.

‘Tere Ishk Mein’ surpasses ‘Raanjhanaa’ collections

What makes Day 5 especially significant is that the film’s domestic gross is now set to cross Rs 82 crore, officially surpassing the lifetime all-India gross of Dhanush’s 2013 hit ‘Raanjhanaa’ which earned a little over Rs 60 crore net and saw its total collections hit the Rs 81 crore mark. With the Hindi net collection of ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ already crossing these numbers, it is now Dhanush’s highest-grossing Hindi film ever, and that too in just five days.Marketed as the spiritual sequel to the 2013 classic, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ had good word of mouth, boosting its box office performance. Its impressive weekday hold has also cemented its status as a major commercial hit.

‘Tere Ishk Mein’ to hit Rs 100 crore mark

With its current pace, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ is expected to enter the Rs 100 crore India net club by the end of its first weekend, thus making it Dhanush’s first-ever Rs 100 crore net film in Hindi.

NEW DELHI: The protection enjoyed by a woman under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is not available in proceedings related to Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema), which is governed by civil law, Delhi high court has ruled.Justice Neena Bansal Krishna dismissed a writ petition filed by a 53-year-old Canadian citizen challenging ED summons issued under Fema Section 37 for recording of her statement, rejecting the contention that safeguards guaranteed to women under CrPC applied to such summons.The petitioner argued that she could not be compelled to appear at the ED office and her statement must be recorded at her residence. She cited CrPC Section 160(1), which prevents women from being required to appear at places other than their residence for investigation. However, the HC highlighted that Fema investigations were civil-administrative proceedings, not criminal inquiries, and therefore, the gender-based protection available under CrPC could not be invoked.“The PMLA and the Fema have distinct statutory frameworks and nature of proceedings. Section 50 PMLA confers criminal investigative powers on ED involving summons for inquiries related to money laundering, which is a scheduled offence under PMLA and involves criminal prosecution. In contrast, Section 37 Fema is primarily concerned with civil-administrative investigations of foreign exchange contraventions governed by a regulatory framework distinct from criminal law. Secondly, there is a difference in the scope of summons and procedural safeguards,” the court said.“Civil code contains no provision like Section 160 CrPC mandating the recording of the statement of a woman at her residence. The insistence of the petitioner for not appearing before the authority is, therefore, without any basis,” Justice Krishna observed.“Powers regarding discovery and production of evidence under Section 37 Fema are analogous to those under Section 131 Income Tax Act, which is governed by civil code and therefore, Section 160 CrPC would not be applicable,” HC added.

Stephen Curry opens up about a heartwarming moment with Ayesha Curry.(Image via Getty Images)

Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, might have shown the world how deeply they are in love with one another but they have been unable to escape the hate they have received over the last few weeks.Amid all the mess, the Golden State Warriors’ star player, Stephen Curry, opened up about a heartwarming moment he shared with Ayesha Curry before they tied the knot.

Stephen Curry opens up about the moment he knew Ayesha Curry would always stand by him

A few days ago, as Stephen Curry promoted his new memoir Shot Ready, he spoke to PEOPLE about the moment he realised Ayesha Curry was the one for him.Stephen Curry said, “We had just started dating, or about a year and some change in, and I was deciding whether I was gonna go to the draft or not, and, you know, communication, trust, and the whole deal — being able to… I was going through it…”The Golden State Warriors’ star player added, “She actually told me to stay in school because of how important finishing my degree was and the whole deal…”Stephen Curry continued, “That conversation and the emotions that I got to share really just established the fact that she was gonna be my biggest supporter no matter what I did. And, you know, the idea that we’ve been through so many experiences throughout the years, I can go back to that foundation of support and being able to lean on each other through that conversation.” Stephen Curry has often praised his wife, Ayesha Curry, in public as he has always spoken about how she stood by him during the toughest periods of his life.These statements of Stephen Curry’s have raised eyebrows as many feel Ayesha Curry “disrespects” the star player and his commitment towards her.

Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry, made some controversial remarks recently

For the unversed, in August 2025, Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast where she spoke about how she wanted a career for herself when she was young.Ayesha Curry also spoke about how she initially did not want children or a marriage but things changed when she met Stephen Curry.This has made fans furious as neither Stephen Curry nor Ayesha Curry has addressed the drama.Also Read: Stephen Curry’s wife Ayesha Curry breaks silence with heartfelt note to him days after making controversial remarks about their marriage