Page 2 - West Asia

Scheme to build bulk drugs' R&D, capacity in works, says Pharma secy

India plans a new support scheme for bulk drugs focused on R&D and capacity creation, while ruling out a broad medicine price hike despite rising input costs

India's green hydrogen market at an inflexion point: IFC exec Fakhoury

India's green hydrogen sector has reached a tipping point, says IFC, as improving economics, policy support and rising industrial demand drive market growth

A growth surprise: Healthy Q4 GDP print lends cushion amid hazy outlook

India's economy grew 7.8% in Q4 FY26, beating forecasts, but risks from the West Asia crisis, higher oil prices and a weak monsoon cloud the outlook

Trump says he would not unfreeze Iran's assets before peace deal is done

Trump says sanctions relief and access to frozen assets will come only after a peace deal with Iran, while signalling openness to talks with its leadership

India seeks a more 'vibrant' Colombo Security Conclave as China looms

Beijing has convened the China-Indian Ocean Forum since 2021. India is not a member of the forum

US intel warns Israel 'spied' on US officials during Iran peace push

The Defence Department has increased the counterintelligence threat assessment to its highest level, and Israel is believed to have eavesdropped on American negotiations with Iran

IATA expects sharp profit drop citing West Asia crisis led fuel price hikes

IATA has halved its 2026 airline profit forecast as soaring fuel costs and disruptions from the Iran conflict weigh heavily on the global aviation industry

US likely to use Iranian assets to help Gulf allies recover from war

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also directed a team to assess costs for damage already inflicted on Gulf allies by Iran

Demand, fares may support H2 cash flow despite fuel shock: Alaska Air

Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett said fuel markets had become less volatile in recent weeks, but prices were still moving by about 5% over a couple of days

RBI, govt charm offensive may draw up to $50 billion global flows

Bond tax exemption, easier access for foreign funds may help cover FY27 BoP gap

A monetary policy beyond rates: Why RBI's latest moves matter more

Most importantly, the slew of reforms announced in today's meeting to support the rupee augurs well for the economy and markets while keeping the growth momentum sacrosanct

Parliamentary panel flags weak private investment, FPI outflows

Parliamentary committee raises concerns over weak private investment, foreign capital outflows and global economic headwinds

Fuel supplies stable, 2,557 Indians moved out of Iran amid West Asia crisis

Government says energy supplies, aviation services and maritime operations remain stable as evacuation efforts continue and Gulf connectivity gradually improves

Need of hour is to use petro products with restraint, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the need of the hour, in the wake of the West Asia crisis, is to use petro products with restraint. Speaking at an event here where he virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore in Telangana, he said the imported petro products should be used only as per need, as it will not only save foreign exchange but also reduce the adverse impact of war. Observing that, over the past few years, India has reached a spot among the top countries in the world in terms of solar power, he said, unprecedented work has been done in ethanol blending in petrol. First, the government is focused on 100 per cent LPG coverage, and now, it is focused on the supply of piped gas economically. The government is also promoting a CNG-based system. Due to all these efforts, India is dealing with the major energy crisis in the world, he said. "But, today, the need of the hour is also to use petrol, gas, dies

1 killed, several injured in Iranian attack targeting Kuwait airport

The strikes came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies said the country had stopped communicating with mediators about extending a ceasefire

Policy complexity: RBI MPC will have to reckon with several moving parts

With oil prices elevated and monsoon risks looming, the RBI is expected to hold rates steady while reassessing inflation and growth forecasts

West Asia conflict: Trade optimism, supply crisis boost Indian tea demand

Merchant exporters are building inventories in anticipation of a recovery in shipments to West Asia, supporting orthodox tea prices despite higher freight costs and trade disruptions

RBI monetary policy: The critical need to attract foreign savings

Rising fuel prices and tighter global conditions are reshaping India's funding landscape, increasing reliance on bank credit as foreign and domestic savings slow

What is Beaufort Castle, Lebanon's Crusade-era fortress seized by Israel

Perched above the Litani gorge, the 12th-century fortress played a key role during the Crusades and has remained strategically important through successive conflicts in southern Lebanon