New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) Global crude oil prices declined more than 1 per cent on Thursday after Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire, raising hopes of a broader diplomatic breakthrough that could ease tensions surrounding the ongoing Iran conflict.International oil benchmark Brent crude fell 1.33 per cent to $96.50 per barrel. Similarly, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined over 1 per cent to $94.76 per barrel.The decline in oil prices came after both benchmarks had gai…
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Washington, June 4 (IANS) India-US relations are undergoing a period of “tactical stabilisation” but remain constrained by lingering strategic mistrust despite recent progress on trade and civil nuclear cooperation, former White House and State Department India expert Basant Sanghera has said.Speaking to IANS after Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first visit to India, Sanghera said the trip was important symbolically but unlikely to produce a major long-term shift in the relationship.”I think i…
Washington, June 3 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that China’s dominance of global critical mineral supply chains poses a growing threat to economic and national security, saying the United States is expanding partnerships worldwide to reduce dependence on Beijing for resources vital to advanced technologies, defence systems and industrial production.Speaking before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs, Rubio said t…
Washington, June 3 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States has seen no evidence of China providing military assistance to Iran during the ongoing regional crisis, while urging Beijing to support international efforts aimed at restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.Rubio’s said this during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing after lawmakers questioned him about China’s relationship with Iran and whether Beijing had provided support during…
Beijing, June 2 (IANS) The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has stressed that “harmonisation is extremely important” for stakeholders to adopt the new World Anti-Doping Code. The new World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards (Standards) will come into force on January 1 next year.WADA, together with co-host China Anti-Doping Agency, is holding the Asia and Oceania Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting and Asia and Oceania Symposium from June 1 to 3 in the Chinese capital.On the op…
New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) India’s manufacturing PMI rose to 55.0 in May, above the readings of 54.7 in April and the flash figure of 54.3 due to quicker increases in buying levels, new orders and output compared to April, with stockpiling gaining strength as a result, the HSBC Flash India PMI data showed on Monday.May data showed that growth across India’s manufacturing industry came in stronger than the ‘flash’ estimates released around 10 days ago. Meanwhile, purchasing prices rose at the sec…
Washington, May 30 (IANS) The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) selection of the 11th Panchen Lama stands as a case study in failure, underscoring that legitimacy cannot be imposed and authenticity cannot be manufactured. If Beijing proceeds with efforts to influence the succession of the 14th Dalai Lama in the similar manner, it risks the same outcome marked by rejection from Tibetans, sparking international criticism, and laying bare Beijing’s insecurity. The lesson for China is straightforwar…
New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) India’s growing role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), backed by deeper partnerships with France and Italy, is not aimed at heightening confrontation but at preserving regional stability. Such cooperation underscored the need to secure vital maritime trade routes, strengthen deterrence, and protect the shared strategic interests of the three countries amid the rising geopolitical competition, a report has stated.“Indian Ocean politics is undergoing a major strategic …
Srinagar, May 29 (IANS) The driver and the helper of a truck escaped miraculously after their trailer truck plunged into a 400-ft-deep gorge near the Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh national highway on Friday, officials said.The accident occurred near Pani Matha in the Zojila sector when the truck, travelling from Sonamarg to Kargil, reportedly went out of the driver’s control and skidded off the road before falling into the gorge.Officials identified the vehicle as a 14-wheeler trailer bearin…
New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Asian markets traded lower on Thursday as renewed geopolitical tensions following fresh US military action against Iran weighed on investor sentiment, while oil prices rebounded 4 per cent after sharp losses in the previous session.In the equity markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined over 1 per cent to 63,905, while South Korea’s KOSPI declined nearly 5 per cent to 7,841.01.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropped 2.37 per cent or 600 points to 24,727, while China’s Sha…