News for 'west-asia'

'The BJP Is A Huge Banyan Tree'

'The BJP Is A Huge Banyan Tree'

Rediff.com2 May 2024

'Elections are fought to win.' 'In our party, the leadership takes the final decision, and our leaders are very clear about it.'

After Iran's strike, China vows to protect Pakistan

After Iran's strike, China vows to protect Pakistan

Rediff.com23 Jan 2024

As China's Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited Pakistan on a mediation mission, a statement from Foreign Ministry on Monday said it is maintaining close contacts with Pakistan and Iran to 'bridge their differences'.

Modi strongly condemns civilian deaths in Israel-Hamas war

Modi strongly condemns civilian deaths in Israel-Hamas war

Rediff.com18 Nov 2023

Modi said New Delhi has emphasised on dialogue and diplomacy along with restraint to deal with the situation arising out of the Hamas-Israel conflict.

ITC would increasingly try to go outside India: Sanjiv Puri

ITC would increasingly try to go outside India: Sanjiv Puri

Rediff.com20 Feb 2024

Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC, is looking to expand the conglomerate's play outside India by taking "strategic positions" in markets close to home in the non-cigarette fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and hospitality businesses. In a recent conversation with Business Standard, Puri revealed that ITC is setting sights beyond India's borders. "We already export to 100-odd countries. We want to scale that up and take some strategic positions in markets close to us," he said.

Buying in index majors help Sensex gain 330 points

Buying in index majors help Sensex gain 330 points

Rediff.com30 Oct 2023

Among the Sensex firms, UltraTech Cement, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Larsen & Toubro, Kotak Mahindra Bank and State Bank of India were the major gainers. In contrast, Tata Motors, Maruti, Axis Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, ITC, NTPC, Tata Steel and Bajaj Finserv were the major laggards.

Markets tumble nearly 1%; Sensex tanks 523 points

Markets tumble nearly 1%; Sensex tanks 523 points

Rediff.com25 Oct 2023

Among the Sensex firms, Infosys, Bharti Airtel, NTPC, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance, ICICI Bank, Tech Mahindra, Titan and Axis Bank were among the major laggards. Tata Steel, State Bank of India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti and Nestle were the gainers.

'Challenge for us is resource management'

'Challenge for us is resource management'

Rediff.com21 Nov 2023

'The fact still remains that we will have to deliver, so the pressure is now on us to make sure we get our resources, our supplies lined up at acceptable costs.'

Xi lands in US to have crucial meeting with Biden

Xi lands in US to have crucial meeting with Biden

Rediff.com15 Nov 2023

US President Joe Biden is set to meet his Chinese counterpart on Wednesday in the San Francisco Bay Area, CNN reported, citing senior US administration officials.

What If Trump Wins A Second Term?

What If Trump Wins A Second Term?

Rediff.com25 Jan 2024

Although India-US relations have strengthened significantly in recent years, partly because of the security situation in the region, the Indian policy establishment would have to be prepared to protect India's interests in a world that could get more unpredictable.

FPI gross purchases hit a high in 2023 on strong earnings, economic growth

FPI gross purchases hit a high in 2023 on strong earnings, economic growth

Rediff.com26 Dec 2023

A combination of strong earnings and economic growth, and hopes of the Federal Reserve ending the rate-hike cycle have pushed gross buying of Indian equities by foreign portfolio investors (IPO) to a new high. In 2023, FPIs have been gross buyers of shares worth Rs 25.5 trillion, the highest ever in a calendar year. FPIs also sold shares worth Rs 23.9 trillion. On a net basis, they were net buyers to the tune of Rs 1.6 trillion, the highest since 2020.

India The Next Big Travel Market

India The Next Big Travel Market

Rediff.com19 Dec 2023

In outbound travel, India will be ahead of Italy, South Korea, Australia, Canada and France.

Rising cases of JN.1 subvariant: Here's what WHO said

Rising cases of JN.1 subvariant: Here's what WHO said

Rediff.com18 Dec 2023

In the wake of the surge in respiratory diseases and new JN.1 sub-variant of COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the virus is evolving and changing and urged the member states to continue with strong surveillance and sequence sharing.

Markets in bear hug; weak global trends, crude prices weigh

Markets in bear hug; weak global trends, crude prices weigh

Rediff.com20 Oct 2023

Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty fell for the third day running on Friday due to weak trends in global markets and soaring crude oil prices. Foreign fund outflows also weighed on investor sentiments amid strengthening US bond yields which are nearing 5 per cent for the first time since 2007. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 231.62 points or 0.35 per cent to settle at 65,397.62.

Abrahamic binary has outlived its utility

Abrahamic binary has outlived its utility

Rediff.com20 Mar 2024

It is only the Indian approach of holding on to multiple realities and contradictory ideas simultaneously that is likely to deliver peace and progress. Binary logic is out of sync with reality, notes R Jagannathan.

Saina Nehwal's unstoppable journey to Asian Games Athletes' Committee

Saina Nehwal's unstoppable journey to Asian Games Athletes' Committee

Rediff.com16 Sep 2023

Asian Games Athletes' Committee poll: Saina set to win uncontested

India may buy more oil from UAE in the coming months after COP talks

India may buy more oil from UAE in the coming months after COP talks

Rediff.com11 Dec 2023

India is expected to ramp up its purchase of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the coming months following discussions between the two countries on the sidelines of the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai, multiple sources in the know said. The UAE has historically been India's third-largest source of crude. It has suffered the largest drop in shipments since Indian refiners began to binge on Russian crude in 2022.

Israel-Hamas conflict: India's hope of respite in oil prices dashed

Israel-Hamas conflict: India's hope of respite in oil prices dashed

Rediff.com17 Oct 2023

The ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict has disrupted India's efforts to gain from a recent fall in crude oil prices. Since Hamas' invasion of southern Israel on October 7, petroleum has become costlier by around $5 per barrel, threatening to stoke prices and impact growth. Brent crude was trading at $89.8 per barrel on October 9 (9.15 pm IST), up over 4 per cent, thwarting India's anticipation of a period of declining oil prices - after the leading global petroleum benchmark declined by around 11 per cent last week.

Holders Qatar to host delayed Asian Cup as Gulf influence grows

Holders Qatar to host delayed Asian Cup as Gulf influence grows

Rediff.com8 Jan 2024

Qatar returns to the spotlight on Friday little more than a year after the first World Cup held in the Arab world when the relocated and delayed 2023 Asian Cup gets underway amid a seismic shift in football's global order.

Imports of California walnut rise after India removes tariff

Imports of California walnut rise after India removes tariff

Rediff.com8 Jan 2024

The California walnuts shipped from the US to India have seen a sharp uptick with imports more than doubling from September to November against the same period last year. This comes after New Delhi removed its retaliatory customs tariffs on the key dry fruit. Two days ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit to New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit on September 9-10, India dropped additional customs duties on about half a dozen US goods that were imposed in 2019 in response to America raising tariffs on certain steel and aluminum products coming from India.

Oil imports from Russia likely to decline this year

Oil imports from Russia likely to decline this year

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

Indian imports of Russian crude oil may stabilise or even decline in 2024 from record 2023 levels amid shrinking discounts, lower output, and a rebound in West Asian supplies, according to the ship-tracking data and industry executives. This may impact the billions of dollars in annual savings that India made last year. Imports of Russian oil jumped by a record 140 per cent in calendar 2023 to 1.79 million barrels a day (b/d) from 740,400 b/d in 2022, when Russia marched into Ukraine in February, and from just 102,000 b/d in 2021, according to the data from Paris-based market intelligence agency Kpler.

Is India Distancing Itself From Israel?

Is India Distancing Itself From Israel?

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

India's voting pattern in the United Nations with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict is lately marked by a calibrated distancing from Israel, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Egypt brokers West Asia pact

Egypt brokers West Asia pact

Rediff.com8 Dec 2004

The Palestinian side is said to have committed to check operations against Israeli targets and Jerusalem in turn would put a halt to all military actions as long as the Palestinian commitment held.

IHG Hotels & Resorts focused on bringing more luxury offerings to India

IHG Hotels & Resorts focused on bringing more luxury offerings to India

Rediff.com4 Jan 2024

Global hospitality major IHG Hotels and Resorts saw its business surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2023 on the back of "unprecedented growth" in the tourism industry, a senior company official said. The UK-headquartered company, which operates Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza and luxury brands like Intercontinental and Six Senses in India, launched its premium lifestyle brand voco in January this year, with the first property set up at Jim Corbett in North India. The group, in total, signed 15 new deals in 2023.

Cricket Diplomacy: Aus Deputy PM to attend WC final

Cricket Diplomacy: Aus Deputy PM to attend WC final

Rediff.com18 Nov 2023

Australian Deputy PM Marles to watch India-Australia World Cup cricket final in Ahmedabad

Battle Royale in Thiruvananthapuram

Battle Royale in Thiruvananthapuram

Rediff.com12 Apr 2024

The Lok Sabha contest in Thiruvananthapuram is shaping up to be a significant battle involving key candidates like Shashi Tharoor, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Panniyan Ravindran. This three-cornered fight highlights the political dynamics in Kerala's capital city, with each candidate bringing their own vision and promises for the region's development, notes Rajeev Srinivasan.

Vedanta in talks to raise upto $2.5 bn to repay overseas bondholders

Vedanta in talks to raise upto $2.5 bn to repay overseas bondholders

Rediff.com9 Nov 2023

Vedanta Resources (VRL), the diversified mining company headquartered in London, is giving final touches to a plan to raise up to $2.5 billion (about Rs 20,800 crore) as debt repayment deadlines near. The company owned by billionaire Anil Agarwal plans to do this by a combination of instruments, including issuing preference shares in the holding company to a slew of offshore investors from West Asia, and taking on another loan to refinance older debt at a higher interest rate. VRL, which is the group's holding company, is also looking to sell part of its 63.71 per cent stake in the Indian listed subsidiary Vedanta Ltd to meet funding requirements, said a banker close to the development.

Houthi Attacks Won't Affect India's Fuel Supplies

Houthi Attacks Won't Affect India's Fuel Supplies

Rediff.com13 Jan 2024

Most of India's oil supplies are expected to stay safe because of the country's good relations with both Russia and Iran. That would take care of over a third of India's supplies.

Iranian Prez urges Modi to stop Israel action in Gaza

Iranian Prez urges Modi to stop Israel action in Gaza

Rediff.com7 Nov 2023

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, urged India to use 'all its capacities' to end the Israeli actions in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.

Qatari court accepts India's appeal on ex-Navy personnel's death sentence

Qatari court accepts India's appeal on ex-Navy personnel's death sentence

Rediff.com24 Nov 2023

A Qatari court has accepted the appeal document on the sentencing of eight former Indian naval personnel to death, sources familiar with the matter said.

Crucial to prevent Gaza war from escalating into regional crisis: Modi at G20

Crucial to prevent Gaza war from escalating into regional crisis: Modi at G20

Rediff.com22 Nov 2023

In his opening remarks at the virtual summit of Leaders of G20 countries, Modi made it clear that terrorism was "unacceptable" to everyone and the death of civilians, anywhere, was condemnable.

Kerala firm to stop supplying uniform to Israeli police over Gaza war

Kerala firm to stop supplying uniform to Israeli police over Gaza war

Rediff.com21 Oct 2023

'We request everyone to stop the war. The Israel police force will not be short of uniforms because of our decision. But this a moral decision. Bombing of the hospitals cannot be accepted... We have decided not to take further orders temporarily'

Jaishankar raises Khalistan issue with British leaders

Jaishankar raises Khalistan issue with British leaders

Rediff.com16 Nov 2023

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India's long-standing concerns about pro-Khalistan extremism in the United Kingdom during his meetings with the country's leaders, stressing that they should be on guard against the misuse of freedom of expression and speech.

Hamas War Is An Immediate Setback To India

Hamas War Is An Immediate Setback To India

Rediff.com17 Oct 2023

India is one of the few countries in the region that enjoys good relations with both Israel and Saudi Arabia, and IMEC would allow it to recreate the old Spice Route to Europe. All this is in jeopardy now, notes Rajeev Srinivasan.

Lack of valuation comfort may enhance gains in capital goods sector

Lack of valuation comfort may enhance gains in capital goods sector

Rediff.com12 Dec 2023

Existing optimism about the capital goods sector has been enhanced by the Assembly election results, which were favourable for the BJP. The prospects of political continuity led to renewed interest in the sector. There are demand-supply gaps, especially in power, and visibility of improved pricing and strong order flows, including from private enterprises.

Top US official to visit Israel for hostage release negotiations: Report

Top US official to visit Israel for hostage release negotiations: Report

Rediff.com12 Nov 2023

After his visit to Brussels, McGurk will visit Israel where he is slated to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and senior security and intelligence officials.

Profit of capital goods cos may stay the course in Q2

Profit of capital goods cos may stay the course in Q2

Rediff.com18 Oct 2023

Capital goods companies in their Q2FY24 results are expected to report another steady quarter of earnings growth as order inflows and execution remain healthy, according to analysts. An upward revision in order inflow targets and a margin improvement due to lower raw material costs are also anticipated. "We expect the execution of all capital goods companies and most EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) companies to remain healthy Y-o-Y (year-on-year), led by strong order book accretion in the past 5-6 quarters," wrote analysts at Kotak Securities in a note, estimating revenue growth of 32 per cent for India's largest company in the capital goods space -- Larsen & Toubro.

Investors turn richer by Rs 81.90 lakh crore in 2023

Investors turn richer by Rs 81.90 lakh crore in 2023

Rediff.com29 Dec 2023

In a memorable year for the equity market, Dalal Street investors added a whopping Rs 81.90 lakh crore to their wealth in 2023 as a raft of positive factors powered a stellar rally in stocks. Experts said India's strong macroeconomic fundamentals, political stability owing to the BJP's success in recent elections in three significant states, optimistic corporate earnings outlook, signals from the US Federal Reserve about three prospective rate cuts next year and heavy retail investors participation played a major role in fuelling the stock market rally in 2023. In the year 2023, the 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 11,399.52 points or 18.73 per cent.

India dismayed at West Asia violence

India dismayed at West Asia violence

Rediff.com1 Mar 2008

"The government of India is dismayed at the continuing violence in occupied Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip," MEA spokesman Navtej Sarna said, adding, "Events this week, including the disproportionate use of retaliatory force, have led to avoidable civilian casualties, including the death of innocent children. This is unacceptable."

Rs Least Volatile Against $ In 30 Years

Rs Least Volatile Against $ In 30 Years

Rediff.com5 Jan 2024

Market participants attribute the stability to the Reserve Bank of India's timely intervention in the foreign exchange market, both in terms of selling and buying dollars.

Sent 38 tonnes of supplies to Gaza: India at UNSC

Sent 38 tonnes of supplies to Gaza: India at UNSC

Rediff.com25 Oct 2023

R Ravindra, India's Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) to the United Nations, on Wednesday, underlined New Delhi's efforts to send humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, saying that it has sent 38 tonnes of food and critical medical equipment to the region.