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West Asia
Against the backdrop of spiralling hostilities between Iran and the US, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) focusing on various aspects of the evolving situation in West Asia. Jaishankar held the phone conversations with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Saturday night. "Discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia," the external affairs minister said on social media on Sunday about his talks with the Saudi foreign minister. On his conversation with Zayed Al Nahyan, Jaishankar said: "Exchanged views on various aspects of the regional situation." It is learnt that India's energy security figured in Jaishankar's conversations with both foreign ministers. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, th
LPG refill bookings have declined to about 77 lakh from 88.8 lakh earlier, indicating some easing of panic buying, even as the government said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or cooking gas, and supplies remain stable despite the West Asia conflict. In a daily update on the impact of the West Asia situation, the government said the share of online LPG bookings has risen to about 87 per cent from 84 per cent, attributing the increase to a campaign by oil marketing companies promoting digital booking and discouraging people from queuing up at LPG dealerships for panic purchases. All domestic "refineries are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories," the update said. "The country remains self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, requiring no imports of the fuels to meet domestic demand." Oil marketing companies have reported no dry-outs at fuel retail outlets or LPG distributorships, and petrol, diesel and LPG supplies are being ...
An Indian-flagged crude tanker sailed out safely from the UAE's Fujairah after loading oil, despite an attack on the oil terminal, as the government on Sunday said it is closely monitoring the situation in West Asia while ensuring stable fuel supplies and maritime safety. The vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil, departed Fujairah at 1030 hrs IST and is bound for India, with all crew members safe, the government said in an update on preparedness measures. Jag Laadki is the fourth Indian-flagged vessel to have come out of the war zone unharmed. Besides, the safe passage being an important milestone for Indian diplomacy, the cargo they are carrying is considered critical as shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz have impacted India's energy supplies. "On March 14, 2026, while the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. The vessel sailed safely from Fujairah
State-owned Coal India Ltd aims to ensure power at a "just price" to the country amid the escalating West Asia crisis that endangers global shipping lanes and imported coal costs, a senior official of the company said. Coal India Ltd (CIL) contributes to 80 per cent of total domestic coal production and 75 per cent of total coal-based generation. CIL contributes to 55 per cent of total power generation and meets 40 per cent of the primary commercial energy requirements of the country. "As a low-cost coal producer, CIL aims to ensure power at a just price to the country," the official said, adding that the country has adequate coal sufficiency to meet the anticipated spike in summer demand, with Coal India maintaining robust stockpiles at pitheads and power plants. CIL's pitheads have an inventory of 122 million tonnes (MT) of coal, while domestic coal-based plants are stocked to the tune of 53 MT, officials said. In-situ coal exposure at CIL's mines stands at around 60 MT, ready f
Exporters and logistics providers are minimising disruptions caused by the ongoing West Asia crisis by closely monitoring carriers, planning shipments in advance, and exploring alternative routes. The exporting community said that businesses are also adjusting inventory, contracts, and schedules for flexibility. They added that support measures, such as sharing regular advisories, engaging with shipping lines to manage surcharges, ensuring vessel/container availability, allowing flexibility in compliance timelines, and maintaining dialogue between industry bodies and government authorities, will help the domestic industry deal with this crisis. "Things are not improving, but we are trying to manage our exports. Shipping lines should not take undue advantage of this situation," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, are creating uncertainty for India's exports, ...
Clouds of toxic smoke unleashed into the atmosphere by US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian oil facilities made a dangerous return to Earth in the form of "black rain," prompting international health officials to warn of serious risks to the public. Residents in Tehran complained last week of burning eyes and difficulty breathing when the dark and oily precipitation fell near the Iranian capital after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck. Plumes of dark smoke have also been seen across other parts of the region over two weeks of war, as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli airstrikes by firing drones and missiles at the oil and natural gas facilities of its Persian Gulf neighbours. Rain washes hazardous chemicals out of the atmosphere in a relatively short period of time, experts said, but people exposed to black rain should take precautions to avoid short- and long-term health risks. Here's what to know: What is black rain ------------------------ It occurs when soot, a
The United Arab Emirates reported a new missile attack Sunday morning, a day after Iran called for the evacuation of three major UAE ports, threatening for the first time a neighbouring country's non-US assets. Tehran accused the United States of using "ports, docks and hideouts" in the UAE to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran's oil exports, without providing evidence, as the war showed no signs of ending. US President Donald Trump said he hoped allies would send warships to secure the vital Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon's humanitarian crisis, with about 800 people killed and more than 850,000 displaced. Here is the latest: Emirati adviser slams Iran's claim that Kharg strikes were launched from the UAE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "This reflects a confused policy that missed the point, lost its direction, and lacked wisdom," Anwar Gargash, ad
In the two weeks since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, President Donald Trump increasingly has been knocked on his political heels. He's grown more agitated with news coverage and has failed to find a way to explain why he started the war - or how he will end it - that resonates with a public concerned by American deaths in the conflict, surging oil prices and dropping financial markets. Even some of his supporters are questioning his plan and his overall poll numbers are declining. Meanwhile, Moscow is getting a boost from the war's early days after Trump eased sanctions on some Russian oil shipments. That, combined with rising oil prices, undercut the yearslong push to crimp President Vladimir Putin's ability to wage war in Ukraine. Then there are Democrats, who were left reeling after Trump won the 2024 election. With control of Congress at stake in November's midterms, the party has come together to oppose Trump's Iran policy and point to the economic turmoil as ..
Foreign investors withdrew Rs 52,704 crore (approximately USD 5.73 billion) from domestic equities in the first fortnight of March amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the depreciation of the rupee, and concerns over the impact of high crude oil prices on India's growth and corporate earnings. The latest sell-off comes after foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) infused Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities in February, the highest monthly inflow in 17 months. Prior to that, FPIs were net sellers for three consecutive months, withdrawing Rs 35,962 crore in January, Rs 22,611 crore in December and Rs 3,765 crore in November, according to depository data. So far in March (until March 13), FPIs have sold equities worth about Rs 52,704 crore in the cash market and remained net sellers on all trading days during the month. Market experts attributed the pullout mainly to rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Vaqarjaved Khan, Senior Fundamental Analyst at Angel One, said escalating ..