Page 2 - West Asia

Govt to continue fiscal measures to mitigate future fuel price volatility

Finance MoS Pankaj Chaudhary said the Centre will balance fiscal support with sustainability while strengthening energy security and adhering to the fiscal consolidation path

Rera extension may save stalled housing projects from insolvency risk

Legal experts said that it should not be construed as permitting developers to increase prices for units already sold

Trump says US-Iran talks to begin Monday after calling off planned strikes

Trump revealed that diplomatic engagements involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran led him to halt what was originally planned as a massive attack

Minus N-power plans, fresh private investments fell 32% sequentially in Q1

India's fresh investment plans jumped 71% in Q1FY27, but excluding four mega nuclear projects, private investment weakened amid West Asia-related uncertainty

West Asia, project delays dent highway building in April-May FY27

Down 45% year-on-year to 740 km in April-May FY27

AI boom, West Asia crisis drive PCB shortage, raise electronics costs

The West Asia conflict and a surge in AI server demand have caused a shortage of printed circuit boards, a key hardware platform, which in turn has triggered a price rise in the electronics industry. This crunch in printed circuit boards (PCB) -- a hardware platform on which components are fixed in electronic products -- stems from rising material costs, supply chain disruptions in key shipping routes, and component diversion toward high-end artificial intelligence hardware. The shortage of PCBs comes at a critical juncture for Indian industry as several major investments amounting to over Rs 15,000 crore are in the pipeline under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) amid rising domestic demand. A senior official of electronics manufacturing services firm Syrma SGS told PTI that the recent strike of Iran on facilities in Saudi Arabia has triggered a shortage of some of the chemicals that are used for making PCBs. "The current quarter and the subsequent quarter wil

RBI rate decision, West Asia developments likely to steer markets this week

The domestic stock market is entering a significant trading week, with the RBI's interest rate decision, West Asia situation involving the US-Iran conflict, and crude oil prices emerging as the major driving factors for investors' sentiment, analysts said. Besides, quarterly earnings and trading activity of foreign investors would also be tracked by investors to determine further movement, they added. "This week is expected to be eventful, with the RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting (August 3-5) emerging as the key domestic trigger. Market participants will also closely monitor the ongoing Q1 FY27 earnings season, with several largecap and midcap companies scheduled to announce their results," Ajit Mishra SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said. Globally, developments surrounding the US-Iran conflict, stability of crude oil supplies through key shipping routes will remain important drivers of market sentiment, he added. After four straight months of selling, foreign ...

Iran's leaders show united front on war strategy but differ over endgame

With escalating attacks against US bases and its allies over the past week, Iran's leaders are showing considerable unity over their war strategy: hanging tough, determined to show Iran can endure more than America and its allies can. But within the leadership, there are sharp differences over what the endgame should be. On one side, the ultra-hardliners who oppose any negotiations with the United States are pressing for total victory in the war. Known as the "Paydari" movement -- Persian for "stability" -- they are hard-core ideologues who want to enforce the Islamic Republic's control over society. On the other, those who support President Masoud Pezeshkian and powerful parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf -- who doubles as Iran's chief negotiator -- see military pressure as a way to win a negotiated deal with the United States. This camp is also spurred by concern over the economic toll Iran is suffering from the war and the need to adapt to social change in the ...

Trump pauses new strikes, says parameters set for deal to end Iran war

President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that Mideast allies have reached the parameters of a deal to end the Iran war and said he would hold off on ordering new strikes in the five-month old conflict for now. Trump on Saturday added that the emerging deal "would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran's nuclear threat". "Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trump said. He said Israel has agreed to join the US in the commitment to try to complete the agreement with Iran that would bring about an end to the war.

Saudi crown prince urges restraint as Trump weighs fresh strikes on Iran

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto leader, in a phone call with President Donald Trump raised concerns about the US potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders' discussion. The discussion on Saturday, which was first reported on by Axios, comes as Trump weighs whether to carry out new strikes on Iran. The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorised to comment publicly, are concerned that if the US targets Iran's energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on other key infrastructure, Tehran could respond by carrying out attacks on the kingdom's and other Gulf countries' energy infrastructure. The crown prince during Saturday's call sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he's weighing to take against Iran, the person said. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Saturday's call. Saudi Arabia earlier thi

Iran warns of strikes on other nations' energy fields if US attacks again

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran would respond decisively to any aggression and discussed the consequences of destabilising actions by the US

US urges its nationals to leave West Asia amid 'complex security situation'

US embassies in several West Asian nations on Saturday called upon American citizens there to consider leaving or be "prepared to depart" amid heightened tensions with Iran and a "complex security situation". US embassies in Jerusalem and other West Asian capitals released identical security alerts warning American nationals about travel to or within the region. The advisory came as US President Donald Trump threatened more strikes on Iran. Speaking at Camp David on Friday, Trump said the US would continue striking Iran "very hard" until it "can't take it anymore". The two countries have engaged in hostilities, with the US attacking Iran and Tehran targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz and American assets in the region. The advisory called the Iranian regime "unpredictable" and warned of a "potential for unforeseen escalation". "Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspa

'Regulatory environment has got tougher for Tata Steel in Netherlands'

Tata Steel expects stronger Q2 volumes across India and Europe despite margin pressure, while pursuing decarbonisation in the Netherlands and expanding Neelachal Ispat

Govt asks Rera to extend timelines of realty projects by 4 months

The ministry cited force majeure conditions arising from the West Asia war and advised state regulators to extend registration and completion timelines for eligible projects

Centre exhausted 18% of fiscal deficit in Q1FY27, shows CGA data

Fiscal deficit stood at 18.2 per cent of the FY27 target as higher subsidy spending was offset by robust revenue growth and sustained capital expenditure

PwC reports riddled with AI-generated errors, fake citations: Probe

PwC is the third Big Four firm to face such scrutiny this year after EY and KPMG came under similar allegations over AI-generated errors in research reports.

L&T signs six-year EPC framework agreement with Oman's leading gas producer

L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore has been selected as one of four EPC contractors for Petroleum Development Oman's upcoming FEED and EPC projects.

16 Indians killed in West Asia conflict this year, govt tells Parliament

Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East this year, 16 Indian nationals, including 10 seafarers, have lost their lives in the region, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in response to a query from CPI(M) MP John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha. The Ministry of External Affairs was asked the number of Indian seafarers and other Indian nationals killed, injured, stranded or evacuated due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. "Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East in 2026, 16 Indian nationals including 10 seafarers have lost their lives in the Middle East (one in Saudi Arabia; two in Kuwait; eight in Oman; one in Iraq; and four in UAE), and 75 Indians have been injured (32 in UAE; 24 in Oman; four in Qatar; 13 in Kuwait; one in Saudi Arabia; and one in Israel)," Singh said. In a separate accident not related to attacks, 12 Indian nationals lost their lives in Ras Laffan gas

PM chairs 4th CCS meet on West Asia, orders uninterrupted fertiliser supply

Prime Minister directs ministries to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supplies for the Rabi season and strengthen support for Indian seafarers affected by the conflict

India shifts methanol imports to China amid West Asia conflict: Crisil

Report says supply disruptions and soaring prices prompted India to diversify sourcing away from the Middle East while boosting imports from China