Washington, April 15 (IANS) India faces rising risks from global conflict and energy price volatility, but enters the new financial year with a strong macroeconomic position, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday. Speaking at the US-India Economic Forum 2026, Nageswaran said the government’s 6.5 per cent GDP growth forecast may be conservative, but cautioned that “we shouldn’t underestimate or understate the wide range of uncertainty that prevails.”He said …
Latest Gulf News & Updates
Washington, April 15 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said the American economy remains resilient despite the ongoing conflict with Iran, asserting that oil prices and stock markets have held up better than expected during the crisis. In an interview with Fox News at the White House, Trump pointed to stable energy prices even as tensions escalated in the Gulf. “If you told me that we were gonna be at only 92 a barrel… I would’ve been very surprised,” he said, noting that many had predi…
Washington, April 15 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said China was “very happy” with his decision to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Beijing had agreed not to send weapons to Iran as part of what he described as coordinated efforts to stabilise the region.In a social media post, Trump wrote, “China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – And the World.”He added that the current crisis “will ne…
New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Iran’s dominance over the Strait of Hormuz remains evident, with surveillance through the chokepoint waters now extending from the tiny Iranian Larak island, while the US security structure over the Gulf has largely disintegrated, with no clear alternative framework yet in place, a report highlighted on Saturday. Writing for India Narrative, noted author and former Minister of State for External Affairs, M J Akbar opined that America’s strongest alliance, NATO, too is …
Washington, April 10 (IANS) US Vice President J D Vance on Friday set off for Pakistan for talks on Iran, saying Washington is ready to “extend the open hand” if Tehran negotiates in good faith, while warning against attempts to “play” the United States. “We’re looking forward to negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” Vance told reporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force Two for Islamabad.He reiterated that the US approach would depend on Iran’s willingne…
London, April 10 (IANS) UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday reiterated Britain’s call for freedom of navigation, making it clear that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls. “In my Mansion House speech, I made clear: the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened, without restrictions or tolls. The blocking of this vital waterway is hitting trade around the world and prices here at home. Freedom of navigation means navigation must be free,” Cooper, also …
Washington, April 8 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan.Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (loc…
Tehran, April 8 (IANS) Iran on Wednesday indicated its willingness to halt its military response provided that attacks against it are stopped, while also announcing a temporary opening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for a period of two weeks.In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the development comes at a time when ceasefire negotiations are currently underway, signalling a possible de-escalation in ongoing tensions.He further stated that a two-week wind…
Islamabad, April 6 (IANS) Pakistan’s chronic dependence on external debt reflects decades of fiscal mismanagement, entrenched elite capture and failure to broaden the tax base or restructure loss-making state-owned corporations, a report said on Monday. According to a report in the ‘Khalsa Vox’, Pakistan has announced to repay $3.5 billion in debt to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the end of April 2026, projecting the decision as an “act of sovereign pride”.It added that Abu Dhabi had s…
Addis Ababa, April 6 (IANS) The African Union (AU) and its partners have warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict poses a “serious risk” to African economies.In a joint policy brief, the AU, the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the UN Development Program warned that the longer the conflict lasts and the more severe the disruption on shipping routes, energy, and fertilizer supplies, the greater the risk of a significant growth slowdown acro…