Page 19 - United States

Israel-Iran conflict: India calls for diplomacy to de-escalate tensions

India's ministry of external affairs called on all sides to avoid escalation; embassies issue advisories to Indian nationals across West Asia

Dubai main airports suspend all flights following Iran missile attacks

The escalating situation across the Gulf region following the joint Israel-US attacks on Iran has majorly disrupted flight connections in and out of Dubai, a major aviation destination and a commercial hub on Saturday. Regional airspace closures have caused disruption to several flights in the overall Gulf region too. "Some flights have been canceled or delayed at @DXB and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International (DWC) as a result of the partial closure of the airspace of the United Arab Emirates," a statement by the Dubai airport said. "We kindly ask you to contact your airline and refrain from heading to DXB or DWC at this time," it added. Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai's airports Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC). Over 100 airlines operate flights to and from Dubai to almost all countries across continents. Regional airspace closures have caused disruption to several flights, including Emirates and Air

West Asia airspace closures disrupt travel as US, Israel strike Iran

Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Israel and Iran imposed airspace restrictions as airlines suspended, cancelled or rerouted flights across the Gulf region following escalating military action

Iranian missiles target US bases across West Asia, expanding conflict

Iran launches missile attacks across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait after joint Israel-US strikes, targeting US military bases and escalating regional tensions

West Asia crisis: Govt reviews preparedness with aviation stakeholders

The government on Saturday reviewed the preparedness of aviation stakeholders in the wake of the evolving Middle East situation and asked airlines to ensure timely rerouting, diversion of flights wherever required in accordance with safety protocols. Multiple airspaces have been closed in the wake of the attacks on Iran by Israel and the US. With Indian airlines suspending their Middle East operations and thousands of passengers facing travel disruptions, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu held a high-level review meeting with the stakeholders. At the meeting, the ministry told airlines to ensure timely rerouting and diversion of flights wherever required in accordance with safety protocols. The review meeting of the civil aviation ministry focused on ensuring passenger safety, operational continuity, and real-time coordination amid airspace closures in the Middle East, according to an official release. Airport operators have been asked to enhance coordination with airlines

US administration seeks delay in court proceedings in tariff refund fight

The DOJ lawyers wrote that a delay wouldn't hurt companies because "monetary loss is a classic harm that can be remedied by payment of money with appropriate interest"

'Final victory is near': Exiled Prince Pahlavi as US, Israeli strike Iran

Exiled Iranian crown prince calls for calm and readiness after the US and Israel launched strikes against the Islamic regime in Iran; appeals to security forces and President Trump

IDF intercepts Iran missile barrages after US-Israel strikes on Tehran

The Israeli Defence Forces said they intercepted at least two barrages of missiles fired by Iran after joint US-Israel strikes on Tehran, as sirens sounded and security guidelines were tightened

What are the main US military bases across the Middle East?

Following are significant US military facilities in the Middle East:

Missile attack targets US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain

Bahrain on Saturday said that a missile attack targeted the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. It offered no other immediate information about the attack. The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported strikes nationwide, and smoke could be seen rising from the capital.

Rubio to visit Israel as tensions with Iran escalate: US State Dept

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick trip to Israel early next week as tensions between the United States and Iran soar amid a massive buildup of US forces in the Middle East, the State Department said Friday. The department said in a statement that Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to "discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza." It offered no other details. The announcement comes just hours after the US Embassy in Jerusalem implemented "authorised departure" status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

'Did nothing wrong, saw no signs of Epstein's abuse,' says Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton started his deposition before members of Congress investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday by telling them he "did nothing wrong" and saw no signs of Epstein's abuse. The closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, marks the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress. It came a day after Clinton's wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sat with lawmakers for her own deposition. Bill Clinton has also not been accused of any wrongdoing. Yet lawmakers are grappling with what accountability in the United States looks like at a time when men around the world have been toppled from their high-powered posts for maintaining their connections with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. "Men - and women for that matter - of great power and great wealth from all across the world have been able to get away with a lot of ...

Russia remains India's top crude oil supplier despite Trump pressure

India's crude oil purchases from Russia remain strong at 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February, showed data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler

Venezuela oil sale proceeds now routed to US Treasury: Chris Wright

The proceeds were initially deposited in an account in Qatar to protect it from seizure

China advises its nationals in Israel to strengthen safety precautions

Earlier on Friday, China advised nationals to avoid travelling to Iran and urged those in the country to evacuate as soon as possible, as tensions build between Tehran and Washington

US tells embassy staff to 'leave Israel if they wish' as war fears mount

The US Embassy in Israel on Friday told its staff that it could leave the country and urged anyone considering departure to do so immediately, as the threat of an American strike on Iran looms. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee told embassy employees in an email that discussions with officials in Washington had led to a decision authorizing departures for those who wished to leave. The email was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the US mission who wasn't authorised to share details. Sent before 10:30 a.m., it urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington. "Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY," Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for "authorized departure." "While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be," he added. Huckabee said that there was no need for panic, but for those desiring to leave, it was important t

US offers $10 mn reward for capture of Mexican Sinaloa cartel brothers

The US State Department said Thursday that it would pay up to $10 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of two brothers identified as leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel in the state of Baja California, which includes Tijuana. The reward offer came the same day that authorities announced a new indictment against Rene Arzate Garcia, 42, known as "La Rana" ("The Frog"). He was initially charged with drug crimes in San Diego. The superseding indictment includes charges of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The US is offering $5 million each for information on Rene Arzate Garcia and Alfonso Arzate Garcia, 52, known as "Aquiles" ("Achilles"). Their whereabouts are unknown. "As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the US border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel's command-and-control structure," the State Department said. "Their control of the

IRS broke law 42,695 times by disclosing confidential info to ICE: Judge

A federal judge said Thursday that the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential taxpayer information "approximately 42,695 times" to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that the IRS had erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security as part of the agencies' controversial agreement to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the US. Her finding was based off a declaration filed earlier this month by Dottie Romo, IRS' chief risk and control officer, which revealed that the IRS had provided DHS with information on 47,000 of the 1.28 million people that ICE requested - and, in most of those cases, gave ICE additional address information in violation of privacy rules created to protect taxpayer data. Kollar-Kotelly said in her Thursday decision that the agency violated IRS Code 6103, one of the strictest confidentiality .

Hillary Clinton denies knowledge of Epstein activities in testimony

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before US House lawmakers in New York on Thursday as part of a congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying she has no information on Epstein's criminal activities and never recalls meeting him. Her testimony starts off two days of depositions that will also include former President Bill Clinton. The closed-door depositions in the Clintons' hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet north of New York City, come after months of tense back-and-forth between the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.

US, Iran deal possible if nuclear, non-nuclear issues are separated

Trump said on February 19 that Iran must make a deal in 10 to 15 days, warning that "really bad things" would otherwise happen