West Asia

Houthis used Claude to develop missiles, test-fired rocket: Anthropic

In a report, Anthropic detailed how Yemen-based Houthis used Claude Code to work on three weapons development programmes.

West Asia war, debt woes top agenda of IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok

Finance officials gather amid an energy supply shock, rising rates and mounting debt, as World Bank chief Ajay Banga warns of compounding diesel, fertiliser and El Niño risks

Markets tumble to 18-month low as US-Iran tensions lift crude oil

Nifty slides 1.64% as rising crude prices, higher US Treasury yields and geopolitical tensions trigger broad-based selling

Indian airlines cancel Riyadh flights after Houthi missile attack

Air India and Air India Express have suspended Riyadh services until October 10, while IndiGo has cancelled several flights and diverted a Hyderabad service to Dammam

Domestic refiners shun costly Russian oil as West Asia flows recover

Surging prices for Russia's flagship Urals crude loaded in the Baltic, a mainstay for Indian refiners, are driving the pullback

Iran-backed Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia, Yemen's Aden airport

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday claimed attacks on military facilities and airports in neighbouring Saudi Arabia as the escalation deepened the latest front in the Iran war and threatened a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis' military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said on social media that the rebels launched ballistic missiles and drones in the attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh, but didn't provide evidence. Flights to and from the airport were briefly disrupted, according to Flightradar24, a tracking platform. Saree said Abha airport, a frequent target of Houthi drones and missiles, was targeted. The rebels also claimed to have hit an air base in the city of Khamis Mushait and two military bases in Najran and Asir. All are in southwestern Saudi Arabia and near the border with Yemen. The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said they ..

PM Modi calls for rules-based maritime order amid rising Hormuz tensions

Modi stresses shared prosperity and responsibility at Sagarmanthan, as the shipping ministry announces an industry coalition for the India-EU Green Shipping Corridor

Global turmoil may mean multiple routes for IMEC to keep trade resilient

Gerard Mestrallet says IMEC needs agility and multiple routes to account for contingencies that could choke parts of the trade network connecting three continents

West Asia crude exports exceed pre-war levels despite tanker attacks

West Asia crude exports exceeded pre-war levels on four days in late September even as tanker attacks increased in and around the Strait of Hormuz

L&T wins power transmission orders worth up to ₹15k cr in India, West Asia

L&T's Power Transmission & Distribution (PT&D) business has secured multiple orders in India and overseas to strengthen power transmission infrastructure and facilitate renewable energy evacuation

Team up against unilateral action: Shaktikanta Das to Global South

Urges trade and energy diversification as US tariffs and West Asian conflict escalate crude import pressures

Why global diesel prices are rising and Indian retailers are limiting sales

A global diesel supply squeeze has pushed up prices as Gulf and Russian supplies face disruptions; in India, industrial buyers are turning to petrol pumps, putting pressure on retail outlets

India so far successfully navigated crude supply disruption, says Puri

"So far we have navigated that uncertainty. In fact, I would say we have insulated ourselves from the turbulence," Puri said while speaking about the country's energy security

Russia remains India's top crude supplier in September amid supply squeeze

Russia supplied 1.74 million barrels per day of crude to India in September through September 27, as constrained West Asian supplies limited alternatives for refiners

Bullion may stay volatile as US data, W Asia tensions take focus: Analysts

Gold and silver are expected to face another choppy spell, with US data, West Asia tensions and their impact on crude prices set to test bullion sentiment during a holiday-shortened week, analysts said. Market participants will shift their focus to the US data calendar, with consumer confidence, GDP and PCE inflation readings, alongside Eurozone inflation. Additionally, manufacturing PMIs, speeches from Federal Reserve officials and the US non-farm payrolls report will provide further cues for bullion sentiment, they added. Geopolitical uncertainty will continue to play a role, particularly the US-Iran standoff, after US President Donald Trump said that he rejected Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week and resume nuclear talks in exchange for lifting the naval blockade. Commodity markets would remain closed on Friday for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. "The broader outlook remains cautious with volatility likely to stay elevated as the market will closely focus on

Saudi Arabia eases oil crunch with nearly 100 million barrel sales to Asia

The crude for delivery in October and November will be sent via the Strait of Hormuz

West Asia troubles may exacerbate: Oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India has navigated the crisis so far, but closure of key chokepoints could create supply challenges if the conflict escalates

Alibaba Group to add data centres in Europe, West Asia in AI push

The Chinese ecommerce leader will set up its first cloud regions in Turkey, Finland and the Netherlands over the next 12 months

US renews West Asia travel alert, warns Iran conflict may escalate rapidly

At least 11 US embassies cautioned about possible travel disruptions