New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) About 47 lakh domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders were delivered across the country on Saturday, indicating that there were no shortages or gaps in gas supply despite the military conflict in West Asia and the subsequent Strait of Hormuz blockade. According to the Petroleum Ministry, the online LPG cylinder bookings increased to 99 per cent on industry basis yesterday, and around 47 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered against bookings of around 47.4 la…
Latest West Asia News & Updates
New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) The ongoing crisis in West Asia has triggered a wider geopolitical debate over Pakistan’s role in the region. according to a report analysts and observers increasingly questioned what they describe as a “dual” or “double policy” approach in Islamabad’s foreign engagements.The debate gained traction after remarks by the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who reportedly referred to Pakistan as a “broker” in the crisis, drawing sharp reactions and renewed scrutiny of I…
New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, OPEC+ countries have agreed in principle to raise oil output targets in June.Multiple reports say that seven OPEC+ countries have agreed to raise oil output targets by about 188,000 barrels per day next month. The output hike would rather be largely symbolic until Strait of Hormuz reopens.This will be the third consecutive monthly increase amid the geopolitical crisis and the departure of the UAE from the group.With the UAE leaving, OP…
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) India’s economy is likely to sustain growth above seven per cent in the near term even as geopolitical tensions in West Asia pose risks to the macroeconomic outlook, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran said on Saturday.He noted that the timing of the conflict coincides with expectations of another year of strong growth, adding that the Union government is closely monitoring and managing crude oil supply dynamics.CEA Nageswaran said India’s reliance on impor…
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) The government on Saturday said it has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 2,922 Indian seafarers so far, including 30 in the last 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations.“All Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and no inciden…
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) In a bid to provide relief to contractors amid the fast-evolving West Asia situation, the government has allowed them to invoke ‘Force Majeure’ in view of disruptions, recognising “war” as a valid trigger under procurement rules.In an office memorandum, the Ministry of Finance said the prevailing conditions in West Asia should be treated as a war-like event for contractual purposes, enabling relief to contractors impacted by delays.Under the revised guidance, cont…
Hyderabad, May 1 (IANS) Telangana’s Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday slammed the Centre for a steep Rs 993 hike in the price of commercial LPG cylinders and demanded its immediate rollback.In a statement, Uttam Kumar Reddy strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to increase the price of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders by Rs 993. He described it as “very unfortunate” and a move that will burden small businesses, street vendors, hotels, restaurants, and ultimately the comm…
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Pakistan is confronting its most serious fuel‑price shock in over half a century, which could trigger a cascade of economic problems and undermine Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, a new report has said.The report from Aljazeera said soaring global oil costs have hit Pakistan particularly hard because the country is heavily dependent on imported energy and remittances from Gulf states, along with an “already precarious balance-of-payments position.” The West…
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…
Guwahati, April 30 (IANS) Former Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar, said on Thursday that the global order is undergoing significant changes, with traditional international institutions facing growing challenges in an increasingly uncertain and multipolar world. Delivering the keynote address at a national symposium on ‘West Asia in a Fragmented Global Order: Security Dynamics and Economic Implications’ organised by the Gauhati University, former MoS Akbar added that recen…