Page 13 - West Asia

Iran open to peace talks as search continues for missing US pilot

The incidents show the risks still facing US and Israeli aircraft over Iran, despite assertions by Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that US forces had total control of the skies

West Asia crisis may hit India exports if conflict persists: Rajesh Agrawal

If the West Asia conflict continues, India's exports to other parts of the world will also be impacted, Central Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Saturday. Indian exports during the last financial year were expected to remain on a positive trajectory despite the crisis, he added. Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of 'Chintan Shivir - Scaling Up Pharma Exports', Agrawal said that because of the West Asia crisis, there was definitely an impact last month on both imports and exports, as energy is a major part of the Indian import market. "West Asia is also an important market. Around 12-13 per cent of our exports go to the region. So, that will directly get impacted. And if it goes on for long, maybe our exports to other parts of the world will also get impacted as some of the value chains will rotate back. We are cognizant of it," the official told reporters. Replying to a query, he said the exact impact of the West Asia crisis on Indian exports will be known in

Govt advises against panic buying, says fuel supplies adequate

The government on Saturday urged citizens to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel and LPG, saying fuel supplies remain adequate despite disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the government is taking proactive steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and cooking gas, while advising people to rely only on official information and conserve energy. The government has prioritised domestic LPG and piped natural gas (PNG) supplies, particularly for households, hospitals and essential services, and has implemented measures to boost refinery output and manage demand, including extending LPG refill intervals. Authorities have also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing, conducting more than 3,700 raids and issuing around 1,000 show-cause notices to LPG distributors, with 27 dealerships suspended so far. Despite supply pressures from the geopolitical situation, there are no ...

West Asia conflict: Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy raise prices as costs jump

Bajaj Auto and Ather Energy raise prices as metal costs surge, passing on war-driven input inflation to consumers

West Asia war: Plastic factories face uncertainty as machines fall silent

The second of a six-part series analyses the impact of the West Asia crisis on the plastic industry, based on a ground report from Balasore, Odisha

OMCs raise red flag over viability of flex fuels, pricing structure

OMCs flag pricing, demand and vehicle gaps as key hurdles to flex fuel rollout, questioning viability without clear incentives and ecosystem readiness

Russia offers to 'steadily increase' crude oil, LNG supplies to India

Russia signals readiness to boost oil and LNG supplies as India faces energy stress amid West Asia conflict and rising import dependence

India's forex reserves plunge $30.5 bn in March amid RBI intervention

Forex reserves decline sharply amid RBI intervention to stabilise rupee; foreign currency assets fall in FY26 even as gold reserves rise

Nomura downgrades India equities to neutral on oil, AI and inflow risks

Brokerage flags risks from elevated oil prices, slowing domestic inflows and India's weak positioning in AI, even as valuations remain stretched versus regional peers

Pakistan-led ceasefire push between US and Iran hits dead end: Report

Iran has officially told mediators that it is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and considers US demands unacceptable, the report said

Crew member of US fighter jet downed over Iran rescued, CBS News reports

US rescues one crew member after fighter jet shot down over Iran, as search continues for second amid escalating conflict

West Asia crisis: Govt explores ways to boost induction heater production

Govt discusses ramping up induction heater production as LPG supply concerns rise amid West Asia tensions, triggering surge in demand for electric cooking alternatives

Iran downs US fighter jet in southwestern region; hits Gulf energy sites

A local channel of Iranian state television claimed Friday that a US fighter pilot ejected from their aircraft over southwestern Iran. The US did not respond immediately to requests for comment over the claim. The anchor on the channel in Iran's Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province read the following announcement: "If you capture the enemy pilot or pilots alive and hand them over to the police, you will receive a precious prize." The channel provided no other immediate details. US Central Command, the Pentagon and White House didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ship carrying Iranian oil shifts course from India to China, says Kpler

Iranian crude tanker reroutes from Gujarat to China amid tightening payment terms, underscoring rising sensitivity of oil trade flows during West Asia tensions

Some stocks likely to buck the trend and shine despite West Asia war

The optimism expressed by brokerages could turn out to be true if West Asia war ends quickly, or if countries find a way to easily move cargo ships and oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz once again

Five Indian nationals among 12 injured by missile debris in Abu Dhabi

Five Indian nationals were among 12 people reportedly injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday by debris from an intercepted missile. Local authorities said the people sustained minor to moderate injuries in the incident. The incident caused minor to moderate injuries to five Indian and six Nepali nationals, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on social media. It said another Nepali citizen sustained a major injury. The incident occurred in the Ajban area of Abu Dhabi when debris fell following a "successful interception by air defence systems", it added. There was no word from the Indian side on the incident. Since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, eight Indian nationals have been killed and several others injured in the region. An Indian was killed on March 29 in Kuwait in an Iranian strike on a power and water desalination plant. Last week, an Indian was among two killed in Abu Dhabi when debris of missiles intercepted by the UAE's air defence system fell on them. On March 1

US launches rescue for F-15 crew after fighter jet downed in Iran

The first known combat loss of a US fighter jet would mark a significant escalation in the five-week war that already has triggered a global energy crisis

First LNG tanker exits Strait of Hormuz along Omani coast since war

LNG ships have avoided Hormuz since the conflict broke out on Feb. 28, disrupting about a fifth of the world's supply of the fuel

West Asia conflict hits Surat's textile biz on higher costs, fewer workdays

Gujarat's textile hub in Surat has started feeling the pinch of rising input costs due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, with several units either curtailing their daily working hours or bringing down their active production days. Some office-bearers claimed that the industry was currently facing losses of around Rs 100 crore every day. Surat city is among India's largest centres for man-made fabric production. The South Gujarat Textile Processors Association has decided to limit the operational days of units to five days a week instead of seven in a bid to manage rising costs, its president Jitendra Vaktania said. "Due to rising costs of raw materials and coal, the textile processing industry in Surat and South Gujarat is facing a crisis," he said. Several units have also scaled down production cycles from 24 hours to 12 hours a day, impacting overall output, said Ashok Jirawala, president of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Welfare Association and vice-president of the Southe

West Asia crisis: Russia offers to boost crude, LNG supplies to India

With the West Asia crisis continuing to drive volatility in the global energy market, Russia has offered to increase supply of crude oil and natural gas to India even as the two sides agreed to further enhance the overall bilateral ties. The energy cooperation figured prominently in meetings Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov held with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday, people familiar with the matter said. Manturov also held talks with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi last evening. A Russian readout of the First Deputy Prime Minister's engagements in New Delhi said special attention was accorded to bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector. "Denis Manturov confirmed that Russian companies have the capacity to steadily increase supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas to the Indian market," it said. The comments came as the the West Asia crisis continued