War Conflict

Iran reimposes control over Strait of Hormuz as ships report gunfire

At least two vessels reported being hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the strait, the sources said

No date set for next US talks: Iran deputy foreign minister Khatibzadeh

The highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended in Islamabad without agreement last weekend

West Asia conflict hits Rajasthan tourism, bookings plunge sharply

In just 15 days of the new financial year, bookings by foreign tourists in hotels have plummeted by 70 to 80 percent

How West Asia conflict impacted Indian airlines' international business

Even as Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire for the next two weeks, the West Asia conflict’s huge impact on India’s air carriers is evident

Over 2,000 killed in Lebanon during Israeli strikes on Hezbollah: Officials

The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli strikes in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah has risen to 2,020, the Lebanese health ministry said Saturday. The death toll from nearly six weeks of war includes 248 women,165 children and 85 health workers, the ministry said. Another 6,436 people have been wounded. Nearly 100 people were killed in the past 24 hours. The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired missiles into Israel on March 2 in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. A tentative truce is now in place in Iran, but the US and Israel say the agreement does not apply to Lebanon, while Tehran says it does. The question is likely to be one of the thornier points in the US-Iran ceasefire negotiations now underway in Pakistan.

US Navy ships transit Hormuz as mine-clearing efforts begin in Strait

Iran has asserted control over the strait through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows, effectively halting most commercial traffic

EAM Jaishankar meets Indian community in UAE amid West Asia tensions

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday began his official visit to the UAE by interacting with the members of the Indian Community. Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to the UAE, is expected to focus on exchanging views on the West Asia conflict. "Started my visit to the UAE interacting with the members of the Indian Community. Spoke about GOI's efforts towards their well - being and security amidst the West Asia conflict," Jaishankar posted on X. "Appreciated their contributions to the local society during these difficult times. As well as the support of the Government of the UAE in ensuring the welfare of the Indian community," the post read. The external affairs minister arrived in the UAE on Saturday after concluding his visit to Mauritius, where he attended the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. The West Asia war and Iran's chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes, had halted shipping and sent global oil prices

White House official rejects reports of US unfreezing Iranian assets

There was no immediate statement from the United States about any unfreezing of assets. Qatar's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Iran shock shows India's external vulnerability, tests growth ambitions

The truly unsettling element in the scenario has been the fall in the exchange rate of the rupee. The fall predates the Iran conflict

Uneasy ceasefire: Mutual mistrust portends trouble for US-Iran talks

Details of the 10-point US-Iran negotiating text remain unclear, but hardline demands from both sides on reopening the Strait of Hormuz suggest common ground may be difficult

Govt hikes LPG allocation to 70% for pharma, food and agri sectors

LPG allocation raised to 70 per cent for key industrial sectors, with cap of 0.2 thousand tonnes per day per sector and conditions for eligibility

US, Iran agree to talk in Islamabad even as Hormuz stays blocked for now

Further adding to uncertainty, sporadic fighting continued throughout the region and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked

LPG imports in April, May a concern owing to shipping woes, availability

Shipping is the biggest obstacle for India in source fuels

Summer will be tough, but growth in line of sight, says Blue Star MD

Unseasonal rains and West Asia conflict may hit demand and costs, but Blue Star expects 20 per cent growth backed by strong long-term AC market expansion

Banks unwind 75% forex bets as RBI deadline nears; rupee, bonds gain

Rupee, bonds gain ahead of central bank's policy review outcome on Wednesday

The Covid lessons: West Asia conflict can also be used to usher in reforms

West Asia conflict may disrupt Budget 2026-27 projections, squeezing revenues and raising subsidies, prompting fiscal adjustments and potential reforms, echoing lessons from the Covid-era shock

Rewiring power for a new era: India's energy transition is too cautious

India imports more than 90 per cent of its oil needs and roughly half its gas requirements

Reducing import dependence: Renewable energy can play a significant role

It has been argued that India must push up the domestic production of fossil fuels, including oil and gas, along with diversifying sources of imports

NBFCs flag rise in MSME delinquencies as Iran war disrupts supply chains

NBFCs see early warning signs in MSME portfolios as supply disruptions and rising input costs linked to the West Asia conflict strain cash flows and push up early-stage delinquencies

West Asia war has evolved into 'systemic tremor': FM Nirmala Sitharaman

FM Nirmala Sitharaman says current year even 'more challenging' but India has enough fiscal space