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Shares of the national carrier InterGlobe Aviation — operator of IndiGo — have tumbled over the last week after the airline cancelled thousands of flights following implementation of stricter pilot-duty regulations. Regulatory pressure and mounting costs have weighed on sentiment, yet several brokerages are urging investors to stay the course, citing the airline’s cost advantages and long-term dominance in the domestic market.

The aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered IndiGo to slash its winter schedule ― first by 5 per cent, then escalating to a 10 per cent reduction ― in response to widespread cancellations and what regulators described as the carrier’s inability to manage the higher demands of new Flight Duty Time Limitations norms.

Operationally, the carrier flagged fatigue-rule compliance, crew scheduling bottlenecks and minor technical issues as reasons for the cancellations. It said a full root-cause analysis is underway.

Despite forecasting that IndiGo might cancel as many as 11,000 flights overall — incurring revenue losses of roughly ₹12–14 billion and reducing net profits by ₹3–5 billion — global banking major HSBC has retained a “Buy” rating for InterGlobe, while trimming its price target for FY26–27. Analysts say the airline’s unit cost per seat-kilometre might rise only around 1 per cent even after additional pilot hires.

Supporters of the airline point out that IndiGo remains the only Indian carrier ramping up capacity by roughly 50 aircraft each year — a growth rate unmatched by competitors such as Air India, SpiceJet or Akasa Air. This expansion underlines its dominant market share and suggests that regulatory interest in capping capacity is unlikely, even amid the crisis.

Not all are convinced. Credit-rating agency Moody’s flagged the flight disruptions as “credit negative,” pointing to potential long-term damage from compensation claims, refunds, potential DGCA penalties and erosion of customer trust. The agency also downgraded IndiGo’s human-capital score — citing slower hiring and inability to scale crew strength for its expanding fleet.

Market technicians have sounded alarms, noting that the share price has broken key support levels and fallen below major moving averages, a trend that could continue if recoveries don’t materialise.

Within the company, top leadership has attempted to calm nerves. IndiGo’s CEO has acknowledged the disruptions, termed the episode a “network reboot” and said flights are being progressively restored. The airline also disclosed that refunds for stranded passengers have been processed, luggage backlog cleared for most, and on-time performance is edging back towards normal.

Amid this turbulence, investors and regulators alike will watch closely whether IndiGo can restore operational stability in the coming weeks, and whether its long-term advantages in scale and cost can withstand the upheaval sparked by regulation and mis-management.

Apple has confirmed that its subscription-based fitness and wellness platform, Fitness+, will be launched across 28 additional markets on 15 December, extending its global footprint to 49 countries and regions. The expansion includes Singapore, India, Chile, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Vietnam, and more, with Japan scheduled to follow in early 2026.

The announcement from Apple’s Fitness Technologies division highlights that hundreds of existing workouts and guided meditations will become available in those new markets, with digital dubbing introduced in Spanish and German from launch, and Japanese to follow next year. The dubbed tracks utilise “a generated voice based on the actual voice” of the 28 Fitness+ trainers, allowing users to select their preferred audio language per session or set a default preference within the Fitness app.

Subscribers will gain access to the full slate of 12 workout categories — including Strength, Yoga, HIIT, Pilates, Dance, Cycling, Kickboxing and Meditation — with session lengths ranging from five to 45 minutes. The platform continues to support a range of devices, including iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, and offers enhanced experience when combined with Apple Watch or AirPods Pro 3, enabling users to view real-time metrics like heart rate, calories burned, activity ring progress and the “Burn Bar” overlay during workouts.

A new feature accompanying the global rollout is the addition of a dedicated K-Pop music genre for workout playlists, complementing existing options such as Upbeat Anthems, Hip-Hop/R&B, Latin Grooves and more. The “Artist Spotlight” series remains part of the offering, giving workouts curated around global music stars.

Apple emphasised the inclusive and flexible nature of Fitness+ in its announcement. The company pointed out that Custom Plans — which automatically generate a personalised schedule based on a user’s preferred activities, session durations, favourite trainers and music style — make it easier for individuals across fitness levels to build consistent exercise routines. With the expansion, users in newly covered markets will now be able to take advantage of curated workout and meditation content designed to fit different lifestyles and routines.

While the bulk of the newly available content remains in English, the introduction of AI-driven dubbing represents a major shift in accessibility, aimed at reducing language barriers and extending the reach of the service among non-English speaking audiences. The company plans to add more dubbed episodes weekly, gradually expanding the library of workouts available in different languages.

Shares of Twenty One Capital, the newly public Bitcoin-native company, plunged sharply as trading began on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker “XXI”. The decline, amounting to roughly 24-26%, underscores investor unease even as the firm debuts with substantial holdings — over 43,500 bitcoins, valued at nearly US$4 billion, making it one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries globally.

The decline came just as the firm completed a merger with special-purpose acquisition company Cantor Equity Partners, a process that had secured shareholder approval earlier this month. The combined entity began trading today, marking the formal public debut of Twenty One Capital.

The backers behind Twenty One include stablecoin issuer Tether, trading platform Bitfinex, and investment-holding conglomerate SoftBank Group — with the SPAC sponsored by global financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

Leadership under co-founder and CEO Jack Mallers has portrayed Twenty One as more than a treasury — the firm aims to build Bitcoin-centric financial services, capital markets advisory, lending and education operations. The business model seeks to marry a large Bitcoin reserve with recurring-revenue operations, offering investors both exposure to crypto and conventional business growth potential.

Despite the ambitious roadmap and deep institutional backing, investor sentiment appears cautious. The dip in share price comes amid a broader downturn in cryptocurrency valuations; bitcoin itself has fallen more than 28% since hitting a peak in October. That decline has put pressure on companies with large digital-asset treasuries.

Market watchers note that the stumble highlights the risks inherent in combining a speculative asset like bitcoin with public equity. Treasury-centric crypto firms have gained attention in recent months for treating bitcoin as a corporate reserve asset — yet, as volatility returns, their valuations are bearing the brunt. Some analysts argue the drop may force such firms to rethink reliance solely on crypto-treasury value, especially if markets remain turbulent.

For now, Twenty One’s challenge is to reassure shareholders that the business side will grow fast enough to absorb volatility in bitcoin prices. Its future will depend on execution: whether it can build a sustainable loan, advisory or media business around Bitcoin — and whether that strategy can hold up even if crypto markets remain unpredictable.

By Nantoo Banerjee India’s domestic civil aviation market, the world’s third largest after the United States and China, nearly collapsed last week as its major private airline, IndiGo, boasting nearly 70 percent of traffic share, suddenly cancelled hundreds of flights on the ground of pilot shortages after it failed to adapt to new flight crew […]

The article India Must Clip IndiGo’s Wings To Protect Fast-Growing Domestic Aviation Market appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By T N Ashok NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India Thursday evening for a two-day state visit that has become a diplomatic flashpoint, testing New Delhi’s ability to maintain strategic independence amid mounting pressure from Washington and European capitals. The arrival marks Putin’s first trip to India since the Ukraine war began […]

The article Putin’s India Visit: A Stress Test Of Strategic Autonomy Amid Global Pressure appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Sui’s token structure is drawing heightened attention as analysts warn that the network’s locked supply and insider concentration could influence market behaviour during the next phase of token distribution. A new assessment suggests that questions around the durability of Sui’s rally persist despite the project’s growing activity in decentralised applications and its positioning as an alternative to high-throughput chains. The concerns have surfaced as market participants look for signals on whether Sui could mirror the type of extended rally seen in Solana during its strong periods of expansion.

Sui’s token model includes a large quantity of locked tokens that are programmed to enter circulation according to a long-term schedule. Data compiled by blockchain monitoring platforms indicates that more than half of the total supply, around 50.57 per cent, remains locked. The release of these tokens is staggered, but analysts note that the size of the locked tranche means the market will continue to grapple with questions about absorption capacity and price impact. A cohort of early backers and core contributors holds about 15.3 per cent of the supply, a figure that has prompted market watchers to examine whether insider allocations could add to selling pressure once vesting windows open.

Developers behind the network emphasise that the emissions framework was designed to support long-term decentralisation and sustainable staking rewards. They argue that the programme aligns incentives for validators, node operators and builders working on the Layer-1 blockchain. However, the scale of the locked supply and the pace at which it is due to unlock have remained central to external evaluations, especially against the backdrop of aggressive capital rotation across digital asset markets.

Sui has promoted itself as a platform capable of handling high transaction throughput through its parallel execution model, distinguishing itself from chains that rely heavily on sequential processing. The project has advocated for its ability to support complex applications, with gaming, asset tokenisation and digital commerce cited as core areas of growth. Activity on the network has picked up over multiple trading cycles, with decentralised exchanges and gaming protocols playing a visible role in boosting usage. Even so, market analysts caution that network adoption alone cannot insulate the token from structural risks tied to large unlocks.

The comparison with Solana has intensified as traders search for the next high-growth ecosystem. Solana’s expansion was driven by rising developer activity, strong venture backing and an improving macro climate for risk assets, elements that contributed to a prolonged appreciation in its token price. Some traders argue that Sui possesses a similar mix of technical ambition and ecosystem investment. Others counter that Solana’s earlier supply dynamics were markedly different, with less pronounced unlocking over short intervals. These observers state that expectations of a parallel trajectory should be tempered until Sui demonstrates a firmer balance between token issuance and organic demand.

Several research desks have highlighted that tokenomics alone do not determine the long-term trajectory of a blockchain project but can exert considerable influence during early growth phases. Analysts tracking the project have pointed to previous unlock waves that resulted in more volatile trading sessions. They note that liquidity conditions matter significantly when large quantities of tokens transition from locked to tradable status, particularly during market downturns. Market participants monitoring derivatives markets also report that funding rates and open interest data reflect cautious positioning around major unlock dates.

The project’s foundation continues to emphasise builder incentives, community grants and ecosystem expansion. Grants directed towards game studios, consumer applications and infrastructure tools have created steady interest among developers seeking alternatives to more congested chains. Daily active accounts and transaction counts have shown periodic spikes, although interpreters of blockchain data stress that differentiating genuine usage from opportunistic activity remains essential when evaluating the long-term strength of an ecosystem.

Solana has formed a double-bottom reversal pattern around the $125 support level, setting up bulls for a possible surge past the $145 resistance zone.

Price data shows that SOL is trading near $143, with technical indicators on daily charts signalling a strong buy: moving averages across 5-, 10-, 20- and 50-day periods align bullish, while MACD, CCI and other oscillators support renewed upward momentum.

Longer-term studies point to a bullish swing if SOL clears $145, a level viewed by many as a crucial barrier to resetting next-leg targets. One prominent analysis suggests that if SOL flips this resistance to support, upside zones near $165 and $179 could come into play — levels that previously acted as consolidation thresholds.

Support near $125 has been repeatedly defended following a dip from higher levels. That makes the double-bottom pattern more credible: the chart shows two distinct troughs at roughly the same price, followed by a rebound — a textbook technical reversal signal.

Traders are watching on-chain metrics as well. The blockchain’s ecosystem remains active with strong total value locked and steady stablecoin and DEX activity, providing some fundamental stability alongside the technical setup.

At the third edition of the Saudi International Handicrafts Week, held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, veteran craftsperson Wu Jianmei rose to the spotlight as exhibitors and visitors gathered to experience global artistry. Wu Jianmei took a seat in the bright red-themed China pavilion, her fingers deftly guiding a needle in a demonstration of Xiang embroidery — a traditional art form that has earned her acclaim over a career spanning more than four decades. Her calm poise and meticulous stitching drew a steady stream of visitors who paused to watch each slender thread breathe life into the fabric.

Organised by Heritage Commission, Banan has brought together over 400 artisans representing more than 40 countries for 2025. China holds the title of Guest of Honour, a symbolic showcase of its cultural heritage in a pavilion designed to present more than a thousand handmade pieces alongside live craft demonstrations. The pavilion features lacquerware, fan-making, batik techniques and complex embroidery — each presented by skilled heritage bearers chosen to represent China’s rich craft traditions.

China’s role this year coincides with the 35th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, as well as the designation of 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts in the Kingdom. Officials accompanying the Chinese delegation underscored the ambition to promote cross-cultural understanding and elevate artisanal craftsmanship within a broader creative economy. Among those present was the Chinese ambassador, who visited the China pavilion and praised the global scope of the event and the Kingdom’s support for heritage-driven cultural exchange.

Visitors to Banan were drawn not only to the China pavilion but to a wider tapestry of worldwide craftsmanship. Traditional techniques from Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan featured prominently, alongside booths from European, African, Asian, and Middle Eastern artisans. Demonstrations ranged across wood carving, clay pottery, metalwork, weaving and shadow-puppet craft.

A special interactive zone called “Banan Story” offered families and children an opportunity to engage hands-on with materials and tools under guided supervision, helping younger attendees connect playfully with global craft techniques. This initiative reflects a broader strategy by the Heritage Commission to foster intergenerational appreciation of handcrafts, encouraging younger audiences to explore cultural diversity through creativity.

For many, Wu Jianmei’s presence at Banan served as a powerful cultural bridge. Her Xiang embroidery pieces — delicate and intricate — symbolised a living history: patterns and stitches that carried stories of generations. Locals and expatriates alike watched in quiet admiration as the needle moved, building intricate motifs destined for display or sale. Her work has previously been exhibited in major institutions, a testament to her stature in the heritage-arts community.