Washington, May 2 (IANS) Iran and its allies have damaged at least 16 US military sites across eight Middle Eastern countries during the US-Israeli war with Iran starting on February 28, rendering some of those positions virtually unusable, a CNN investigation has found.The damaged facilities constitute the majority of US military sites in the region, according to the CNN report, citing a congressional aide familiar with the damage assessments.”There has been a spectrum of assessments,” a source…
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Seoul, May 1 (IANS) South Korea’s exports exceeded $80 billion for the second consecutive month in April, jumping nearly 50 per cent from a year earlier on the back of robust shipments of semiconductors, government data showed on Friday.Outbound shipments totalled $85.89 billion last month, up 48 percent on-year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, reports Yonhap news agency.The April tally marks the second-highest monthly export figure for the countr…
Washington, May 1 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said Iran had been significantly weakened and was eager to negotiate, even as tensions remain high over its nuclear programme.“Iran is dying to make a deal,” Trump said, while reiterating that Tehran “cannot be nuclear.”He claimed US military action had sharply degraded Iran’s capabilities. “Their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone… their drone factories are about 82 percent down,” he said.Trump added that missile production h…
Washington, May 1 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Thursday congratulated Ali al-Zaidi on his nomination as Iraq’s next Prime Minister, signalling support for the formation of a new government in Baghdad and expressing hope for closer bilateral ties.In a post on his official social media platform, Trump said: “Congratulations to Ali al-Zaidi on his nomination to be the next Prime Minister of Iraq!”He added that Washington wishes him success as he seeks to form a government capable of ad…
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) An instability persists across the Middle East from Gaza to the Gulf, regional voices are increasingly warning that the real threat is no longer confined to state rivalries, but lies in the growing convergence of terror networks and ideological movements. Amidst this, India is beginning to be seen as a potential balancer. In an interaction titled “Crisis in the Middle East: Are We Entering a New Regional Order?”, Egyptian parliamentarian Mohamed M Farid told think-tank…
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) India and Italy explored prospects for further developing industrial cooperation in the defence sector during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in New Delhi on Thursday. Both ministers discussed ways to further develop mutually beneficial defence industrial cooperation under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and Italy’s defence cooperation initiative. The two sides also exchanged a Bilateral Military Coop…
New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) While the West Asia conflict constitutes a significant supply shock, India’s domestic demand, policy buffers, resilient financial system, and sustained public investment provide some insulation, according to the Finance Ministry’s monthly economic review for April.While supply-side stresses are becoming increasingly evident, the report said demand conditions in March, as evident from retail vehicle sales as well as tractor sales, still appear reasonably robust. “…
Washington, Aprril 30 (IANS) Surging oil prices driven by the Middle East conflict are clouding the US Federal Reserve’s economic outlook, with policymakers warning of rising inflation and uneven global impact, particularly on energy-dependent regions such as Asia. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said higher energy costs are already feeding into inflation, complicating the central bank’s policy path. “Inflation has moved up and is elevated, in part reflecting the recent increase in glo…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) US Senators Cory Booker and Dave McCormick have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening energy security, supply chains and strategic partnerships by elevating the Eastern Mediterranean’s role in the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The proposed “Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act” seeks to expand US engagement in a region increasingly viewed as a critical link between the United States, India, the Middle East and Europe. The…
Washington, April 30 (IANS) The US war with Iran is prompting concerns in Congress that Washington’s military focus may be shifting away from countering China, as lawmakers warn of growing strain on resources and deployments. At a hearing on the Pentagon’s budget, members pointed to the concentration of US forces in the Middle East, including carrier strike groups, at a time when China is expanding its military reach.Committee chairman Mike D. Rogers said the United States faces “an unprec…