Page 7 - West Asia

Saudi Arabia important factor for stability in West Asia: EAM Jaishankar

EAM Jaishankar emphasised India's commitment to condemning acts of terrorism and hostage-taking while expressing deep concern over the continuing deaths of civilians

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant steps down, Israel Katz takes over

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant officially stepped down Friday in a ceremony that replaced him with Israel Katz, the former foreign minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Gallant earlier this week. Israel has been rocked by Gallant's dismissal, with the news setting off mass protests across the country. Many in Israel view Gallant as the sole moderate voice in a far-right government, and see his removal as a sign that the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu has lost interest in returning hostages still held in Gaza. Israel Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister. Also Friday, the Israeli military body handling aid to Gaza, COGAT, said it is preparing to open a new aid crossing into Gaza as the deadline for a US deadline to increase desperately-needed aid into the war-ravaged territory approaches. But the body did not say when the crossing will open nor if aid will be .

Engineering firms expect pipeline to remain robust amid West Asia crisis

Engineering exports to West Asia countries such as the UAE rose by 50 per cent

Israeli Ambassador calls India key part of resolution of West Asia conflict

He also commented on Israel's expectations from the government of India when it comes to the tensions in West Asia. We are continuing our dialogue with the Indian government

PM Modi holds talks with Greece counterpart to strengthen bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis have appreciated the momentum in bilateral ties following recent high-level exchanges. An official statement said on Saturday that the two leaders reiterated their firm commitment to further strengthening the India-Greece strategic partnership. In his call to Modi, Mitsotakis warmly congratulated him on his re-election in the general elections. They reviewed the progress in a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, shipping and connectivity, in a follow-up to Mitsotakis's visit to India earlier this year. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of interest, including the IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and developments in West Asia, the statement said.

L&T wins 'major' orders in West Asia, Africa to expand high-voltage grid

The orders are estimated to be valued between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore

Israel warns Iran again after Oct 26 attack: 'Will hit places we spared'

Israel targeted Iran's military bases on Saturday as a response to the October 1 attack, in which Iran launched a barrage of missiles on Israel

Sacheerome targets 30-40% annual growth in West Asian fragrance market

Indian fragrance and flavour company Sacheerome is targeting a 30-40 per cent annual growth in the Middle East market as it deepens its footprint in the region, aiming to establish Dubai as its second home, Chief Perfumer and Managing Director Manoj Arora has said. Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the Beautyworld Middle East Expo 2024, in which the company is showcasing its products, Arora said the company's expansion aligns with a global vision to lead in niche fragrance and flavour experiences by 2030. "We aim to become a global leader in unique fragrance and flavour experiences by 2030. We are eying a growth of 30-40 per cent year-on-year in the Middle East region," Arora said. "We have world-class R&D and robotic manufacturing in India, and establishing an R&D, Application, Evaluation Center, and Warehouse in Dubai will sharpen our ability to meet regional demands faster and more creatively, Arora said. "India's rich resources and lower operational costs give us a ...

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Israel says strikes on Iran concluded, US denies involvement; top updates

Multiple explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran but there was no immediate confirmation of casualties. Israel did not elaborate on the exact nature of its strikes

Oil prices rise 1% as tensions in West Asia heighten supply concerns

Oil prices have gained about 4 per cent this week after shedding more than 7 per cent last week on concerns of oversupply and weak demand and a perceived calming of Middle East tensions

Turkey blames Kurdish rebels PKK for Ankara terror attack: Who are they?

Turkey targeted over 30 sites of the PKK militant group in Iraq and Syria after suspected Kurdish militants set off explosives and opened fire at state-run defence company TUSAS in Ankara

Brics Summit: PM Modi, Iran Prez discuss Chabahar Port, West Asia conflict

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran's President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian discussed regional connectivity and West Asia conflict. PM Modi also extended a formal invitation to Pezeshkian to visit India

Over dozen people killed in Israeli strikes near Beirut's main hospital

Israeli airstrikes in and around Beirut caused significant damage to the country's largest public hospital and killed more than a dozen people, Lebanese health officials said, as Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region. Lebanon's Health Ministry said that 57 others were wounded in airstrikes late Monday that destroyed several buildings facing the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, located on the outskirts of southern Beirut. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah target, without elaborating, and that it had not targeted the hospital itself. The State Department said Blinken would focus on ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and alleviating the suffering of Palestinian civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to annihilate Hamas and recover dozens of hostages held by the group. Hamas says it will only release the captives in .

Israeli military apologises for strike that killed 3 Lebanese soldiers

The Israeli military apologised Monday for a strike that killed three Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon the previous day, saying it is not battling the country's military and its soldiers believed they were targeting a vehicle belonging to the Hezbollah militant group. Last week, Hezbollah said it is entering a new phase in its fight against invading Israeli troops, as the region reckoned with the killing of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza. Sinwar was a chief architect of the attack on southern Israel that precipitated the latest escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Israel's allies, war-weary residents of Gaza and others have expressed hope that Sinwar's death would pave the way for an end to the war, but both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas have vowed to keep fighting until they achieve their goals. Netanyahu has pledged to annihilate Hamas and recover dozens of hostages held by the group. Hamas says it will only release the

Antony Blinken to make another push to defuse conflicts in West Asia

Blinken will discuss with regional leaders the importance of ending the war in Gaza, ways to chart a post-conflict plan for the Palestinian enclave

Important to sustain resolve in supporting Ukraine: Biden to Western allies

US President Joe Biden said it's important for Ukraine's Western allies to sustain our resolve in supporting the country as he held meetings Friday with European partners, with the upcoming US presidential election casting a long shadow over his visit to Germany. Biden met Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Ukraine's second-biggest military supplier after the US, and was to be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also were to address the conflict in the Middle East. With the election just weeks away and the race extremely tight, there are worries that a victory by Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, could upset the relationships that Biden is hoping to pass on to Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. Trump has an appetite for imposing trade tariffs on key US security partners. He has expressed indifference to the security of Ukraine, refusing to say during a presidential debate if he wants the US al

India's trade with Africa may take a hit if Iran-Israel conflict widens

The commerce department is closely tracking the conflict between Iran and Israel and any development related to the same is under its radar

Hezbollah says it will cause Israel pain but also calls for ceasefire

On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to attack Hezbollah "without mercy, everywhere in Lebanon " including Beirut"

Israel kills at least 21 in airstrike on Christian town in north Lebanon

So far the main focus of Israel's military operations in Lebanon has been in the south, the Bekaa Valley in the east and the suburbs of Beirut