Page 34 - West Asia

Prolonged West Asia war could erode US support for Ukraine: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern that a prolonged US-Israeli war on Iran could further erode America's support for Ukraine as Washington's global priorities shift and Kyiv braces for reduced deliveries of critically needed Patriot air defence missiles. Ukraine desperately needs more US-made Patriot air defence systems to help it counter Russia's daily barrages, Zelenskyy said, speaking to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview late Saturday in Istanbul. Russia's relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago has killed thousands of civilians. It has also targeted Ukraine's energy supply to disrupt the industrial production of Ukraine's newly developed drones and missiles, while also denying civilians heat and running water in winter. "We have to recognise that we are not the priority for today," Zelenskyy said. "That's why I am afraid a long (Iran) war will give us less .

Missing US airman rescued after fighter jet downed in Iran: Report

The rescue operation for the crew member of the F-15E fighter jet was conducted by a "specialised commando unit with a high volume of air cover," the report said

LPG crisis hits Dehradun's 'Maggi points', vendors struggle to sustain biz

Once bustling with tourists, these popular stops are now witnessing a sharp decline in footfall as vendors grapple with cooking delays and limited resources

US inflation set to spike as energy prices rise amid West Asia war

Economists are penciling in a 1 per cent increase in the consumer price index for March - the sharpest one-month advance since 2022 - after the Iran war pushed gas prices up by about $1/gallon

Kuwait's oil ministry building set ablaze by Iranian drone strike

The damaged building, which also houses the emirate's oil ministry, was evacuated and firefighting crews were on the scene

Iran calls on public to find 'enemy pilot' as US continues frantic search

The US military pressed ahead Saturday in a frantic search for a missing pilot over a remote area in southwestern Iran, a day after the Islamic Republic shot down a US warplane and promised a reward for whoever turns in the pilot. The plane, identified by Iran as a F-15E Strike Eagle, was one of two attacked Friday, with one service member rescued and at least one missing. It was the first time the United States lost aircraft in Iranian territory during the war, now in its sixth week, and could add to pressure on the Trump administration to end the fighting. The war, which began with joint US-Israel strikes on Feb 28, has killed thousands, shaken global markets, cut off key shipping routes and spiked fuel prices. It shows no signs of slowing as Iran responds to ongoing airstrikes with attacks across the region. The downing of the American planes came two days after US President Donald Trump said in a national address that the United States has "beaten and completely decimated Iran."

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