The US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during the conflict with Iran, representing a quarter of its fleet and a significant financial blow. These losses, some due to communication failures, raise questions as India recently signed an agreement to procure 31 of these drones.
US President Donald Trump has announced the cancellation of a planned attack on Iran, contingent on Tehran agreeing to rapidly open the Strait of Hormuz and end its nuclear programme. This decision follows appeals from Middle Eastern countries and includes Israel's commitment, though Iran had previously warned against any "adventurous action" from the US.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty tumbled nearly 1 per cent for the third consecutive day, driven by a sharp spike in crude oil prices and significant selling in bank stocks, with Brent crude jumping to USD 95.27 per barrel.
Housing sales fell 6 per cent in April-June to 90,715 units across seven major cities on subdued demand amid economic uncertainties and also rising home prices, according to Anarock data released on Monday. As many as 96,285 units were sold in the year-ago period across the top seven cities -- Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Delhi-NCR, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw one of their largest weekly expansions, surging by USD 14.136 billion to reach USD 707.002 billion during the week ended August 7, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The American military's air-defence missile inventories, including Patriot and THAAD interceptors, are significantly depleted due to the ongoing five-month confrontation with Iran. A CSIS assessment reveals a steep drop in reserve stocks, raising concerns about the US's capacity to maintain Middle East operations and address other global security challenges. This depletion could force the US and its allies to take higher operational risks.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained its key policy rates for the fourth consecutive time, keeping the repo rate at 5.25 per cent, while the benchmark BSE Sensex closed 152 points higher in a volatile session, recovering from an intraday dip.
Former US President Donald Trump stated that Gulf nations should reimburse the United States for safeguarding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while asserting that recent American military interventions have profoundly crippled Iran's military capabilities, claiming Iran has been "brought back to the Stone Ages."
Indian benchmark indices closed marginally higher, with the Sensex gaining over 43 points and the Nifty remaining flat, as a spike in crude oil prices due to geopolitical uncertainties tempered risk appetite.
Japanese 'flying car' manufacturer SkyDrive Inc plans to commercialise its eVTOL aircraft in India by 2028, initially focusing on medical logistics, particularly organ transportation. The company, backed by Suzuki, has signed an agreement with Air India and Suzuki for this purpose and is considering future manufacturing in India.
The Middle East-India route is hotting up in December as several airlines are busy raising the number of flights.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 6.118 billion, reaching USD 682.354 billion for the week ending July 24, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, bounced back significantly after two days of losses, with the Sensex climbing 443.97 points to settle at 76,922.64, driven by positive global market trends and a drop in crude oil prices.
A Delhi Police constable allegedly shot his 30-year-old wife dead on her birthday in east Delhi's Vinod Nagar. The victim's family claims she was subjected to dowry harassment, and the accused has been absconding since the incident. Police are investigating the marital relationship and past complaints.
Director Rahul Dholakia's film, which is based on the troubles in the Kashmir valley, will not be screened in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is significantly investing in automation, robotics, and technology-led solutions to scale up its construction activities, as increasing traditional manpower is no longer a viable growth option, according to CFO R Shankar Raman.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 1.08 billion to USD 676.237 billion for the week ended July 17, primarily due to a significant rise in foreign currency assets, despite a drop in gold reserves.
From the Sensex basket, Tata Motors, State Bank of India, Tata Steel, Power Grid, NTPC, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance and Asian Paints were the major laggards.
GMR Aero Technic has signed a license agreement with Honeywell Aerospace to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for LEAP engine line replaceable units (LRUs). This partnership will enhance MRO capabilities for Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in India, leveraging Honeywell's technology and GMR's infrastructure to offer efficient and cost-effective solutions for regional airlines.
Indian benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rallied in early trade, driven by a significant decline in Brent crude oil prices, which fell below the USD 73 per barrel level, and positive trends observed across most Asian equities.
The Indian stock market's movement this week will be significantly influenced by the outcome of US-Iran talks, global crude oil prices, and the trading activities of foreign institutional investors (FIIs), according to market analysts.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has strongly defended India's decision to purchase Russian crude oil, stating that the country's energy choices are based on cost and availability, and highlighting the West's 'hypocrisy' in criticising India while historically supplying weapons used against it.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw a significant drop of USD 7.511 billion, settling at USD 681.384 billion for the week ending May 22, as the Reserve Bank of India intervened in the forex market due to rupee pressure and the lingering effects of the Middle East conflict.
Indian benchmark equity indices, the BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty, experienced a significant drop in early trade due to elevated oil prices, weak global market trends, and renewed fears of military operations in the Middle East following US President Donald Trump's statements regarding Iran. Track Sensex, Nifty on May 20.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, experienced declines in early trade due to a significant surge in crude oil prices, exacerbated by escalating tensions in the West Asia. Track how Sensex, Nifty fared on July 23.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, rebounded nearly 1 per cent, with the Sensex jumping 790.54 points to 76,991.22, driven by softening crude oil prices and strong buying in banking, financial, and IT shares.
The United States has launched a fresh wave of precision strikes, hitting approximately 90 Iranian military targets deep inside Iran, further intensifying a rapidly expanding regional conflict, with Tehran warning of severe retaliation.
The plan, which was three years in the making, offers a path towards a two-state solution and presents a "contiguous" territory for a Palestinian state, the US president said.
Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect, protesting a proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup, which he labelled 'a bad deal for football'.
India's manufacturing sector activity growth declined to a five-year low in July, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) falling to 53.5 from 54.2 in June, driven by a slower rise in new business orders and challenging market conditions.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have conducted a 'heavy wave of strikes' against numerous Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. This action was a direct response to attempted Iranian missile strikes on US forces in West Asia, which were successfully intercepted. The strikes targeted IRGC military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance, and maritime capabilities, aiming to reduce threats posed by Iran and its proxies. US President Donald Trump also issued strong warnings to Tehran, linking the escalation to a recent drone strike on an LNG vessel in Egypt's Damietta Port.
India's manufacturing sector activity reached a three-month high in May, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 55.0, driven by robust domestic demand, infrastructure projects, and new business gains despite ongoing inflationary pressures.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw a significant drop of USD 8.094 billion, settling at USD 688.894 billion for the week ending May 15, as the Reserve Bank of India intervened in the forex market and global events like the Middle East conflict impacted the rupee.
Jaishankar emphasised that the stability of the Middle East region was essential because about one crore Indian citizens live there and said, "a large part of our shipping passes through this region and also, oil comes from there."
Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa has strongly criticised FIFA's plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, calling the lack of consultation "totally unacceptable". He stated that FIFA's unilateral actions undermine continental football and urged member federations to await further discussions before approving the $20 billion proposal.
India's manufacturing sector experienced a mild recovery in April, with the HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 54.7 from 53.9 in March. However, inflationary pressures intensified, with input costs increasing at the fastest pace since August 2022, largely attributed to the Middle East conflict.
Sagiv Steinberg, CEO of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs (JCFA), described the recent US-Iran peace agreement as a temporary 60-day ceasefire, not a genuine peace deal, suggesting it's timed for the upcoming US midterm elections.
