Latest news with #ISRAEL-IRAN
India Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Iran fires missiles with cluster bombs as conflict with Israel enters day eight
As the Israel-Iran conflict enters its eighth day, both countries traded barrages of missiles and drones on Friday. Israel bombed nuclear infrastructure in Iran. Tehran retaliated by firing missiles armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing conflict, including a strike that damaged an Israeli hospital. The exchange marks a sharp escalation in a week-long air war with no clear signs of de-escalation or a diplomatic Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran's leadership would pay the full price for the hospital strike. He added Israel is ahead of schedule in its military campaign against Iran, exceeding prior the White House said US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will back Israel militarily. This comes as the White House said definitively that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in "a couple of weeks" once given the go-ahead from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Behind the scenes, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly held several phone conversations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continued strikes on Iran's military and nuclear sites, targeting infrastructure linked to Iran's nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is ahead of schedule in its military campaign against Iran. He said Israel has the capability to target all of Iran's nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordo site. advertisement Iran also launched barrages of drones and missiles targeting Israel. The Israeli military on Thursday accused Iran of firing a missile armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Earlier, Iran hit a medical building in southern Israel, causing extensive damage. Israel's Health Ministry said 71 people were wounded in the attack, most of them suffering light injuries or panic attacks as they rushed for shelter. The White House also said that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a couple of weeks if approved by Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Earlier, the White House said that President Donald Trump will make a decision within the next two weeks on whether to launch a military strike against Iran. The announcement comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over the Israel-Iran conflict. Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, quoted message from Trump, "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks." Iran has appointed a new head of intelligence at its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), days after Israeli strikes killed his predecessor. According to the Iranian state media, Brigadier General Majid Khadami has been named as the new intelligence chief by IRGC commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour. He succeeds Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday along with two other Revolutionary Guards officers, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri, in an Israeli strike. Amid escalating tensions, nearly 40 US military aircraft have disappeared from the tarmac at a major American airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks, in what appears to be a preemptive move to shield US assets from potential Iranian strikes. Tune InMust Watch
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Top News Headlines In Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore & Vietnam: June 18, 2025
Cambodia has been re-elected as a member of the Program Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). It will represent the Asia-Pacific Region for the 2026-2028 term beginning on January 1, 2026. China-funded Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Project on Mine Action in Cambodia will bring safety and development affected areas. About 700 families will directly benefit from mine-free land and an additional 55,111 families in targeted areas will also gain. TO DISCUSS SECURITY, TRADE WITH PUTIN -- THE JAKARTA POST President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to talk about security, trade and the economy during their first official bilateral engagement, following the two leaders' previous pledge to deepen Jakarta-Moscow relations. BANKNOTES ON DISPLAY AS AGO SEIZES US$728 MLN IN PALM OIL GRAFT -- JAKARTA GLOBE The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has seized more than Rp 11.88 trillion (around US$728 million) from five subsidiaries of Singapore-based agribusiness giant Wilmar Group in connection with a corruption case involving crude palm oil export permits. LAOS BANK-FUNDED WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT -- VIENTIANE TIMES Laos will implement the World Bank-funded RM162 million (US$38 million) waste management project from 2025 to 2031. The project involves the management of waste, plastics and pollution and also improving municipal solid waste services in Vientiane. TO ADDRESS BORDER CRIMES -- VIENTIANE TIMES At the 6th Thai-Laos and Lao-Thai Summit, both governments pledged to address border issues. Officials will address drug trafficking, unlawful border crossing and crimes. The Lao-Thai border passes through nine provinces in Laos and borders 12 provinces in Thailand. MYANMAR 50,000 PRIVATE BUSINESSES REGISTERED -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Private industries are growing with nearly 47,879 companies registered with the Ministry of Industry this year. Fifty per cent of the companies are in the food sector. Yangon is home to 8,220 businesses and Mandalay boasts 6,898 companies. PRICE RISES IN LOCAL MARKET -- THE GLOBAL NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR Local maize prices have increased due to strong demand in the global market and a shortage in the domestic market. Myanmar exports about three million metric tonnes of maize annually, with Thailand being its main market. SINGAPORE CALLS FOR IRAN'S 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' AS ISRAEL-IRAN AIR WAR ENTERS SIXTH DAY -- THE STRAITS TIMES/REUTERS Iran and Israel launched new missile strikes at each other on June 18 as the air war between the two longtime enemies entered a sixth day despite a call from US President Donald Trump for Iran's unconditional surrender. CALLS FOR IRAN'S 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' AS ISRAEL-IRAN AIR WAR RAGES ON -- CNA/REUTERS President Donald Trump called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" on Tuesday (Jun 17) and warned that US patience was wearing thin, but said there was no immediate intention to kill Iran's leader "for now", as the Israel-Iran air war raged for a fifth day. VIETNAM ORDERS 40 ROLLS ROYCE TRENT 7000 ENGINES -- VIETNAMPLUS Vietjet ordered an additional 40 Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. The latest procurement will help to expand its 20 Airbus A330neo aircraft fleet. The airline ordered 40 similar engines at the Singapore Airshow last year. WUTIP THREATENS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL -- VIETNAM NEWS Hanoi meteorologists warn about the severity of Storm Wutip that brings heavy rainfall due to a shift in seasonal weather patterns. So far nine people have died, 60,000 hectares of crops submerged in floods and eight boats damaged. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters to India amid Israel-Iran tensions
Tensions between Iran and Israel have been on the rise and one name keeps surfacing in global headlines: the Strait of narrow stretch of sea might seem far from India, but what happens there can directly impact your fuel bill, your business, and even your stock market Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the south. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and then to the Arabian At its narrowest point, it is only about 21 miles (34 kilometres) wide. However, the actual navigable channel for ships is just a few kilometres wide in each direction, making it a tightly controlled and high-risk ports located near the strait include:Iran's Bandar Abbas – a major naval and commercial portUAE's Fujairah Port – an important oil storage and shipping pointOman's Sohar Port – used for trade and shipping reroutesQatar's Ras Laffan – a key port for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exportsThis waterway is the only sea route for oil and gas exports from most of the Gulf countries, which makes it strategically THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS IMPORTANTAlmost one-fifth of the world's oil, more than 17 million barrels per day, passes through the Strait of Hormuz. It is the main shipping route for energy exports from major producers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and the to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 20% of the world's oil supply, around 20.9 million barrels per day, passes through this narrow waterway, with nearly 83% of it destined for Asian markets. Any threat to the free flow of oil and gas through this strait poses a significant risk to global energy India, which imports over 85% of its crude oil, this makes the strait a vital artery. Any disruption, whether by military activity, threats, or shipping delays—can lead to a sharp rise in oil prices, impacting India's THE ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT AFFECTS THE STRAITAs Israel and Iran continue to launch missile and drone attacks on each other, there is growing concern that Iran could restrict or block access to the Strait of Hormuz—something it has threatened in the past. Even the fear of this happening can send shockwaves through oil markets and disrupt global tension also puts commercial ships at risk. Insurance premiums go up, companies reroute vessels, and shipping delays become more likely."The extent to which global powers can dissuade Iran from blocking this vital passage will determine the scale of impact on oil markets going forward. Even without further escalation, the geopolitical risk premium on oil is likely to persist," said Ankit Patel, Partner at Arunasset Investment Services. advertisement"Rising crude oil prices fuel inflationary pressures, particularly in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and strain the external balance. A $10 increase in crude prices can widen India's current account deficit by approximately 0.55% of GDP and raise CPI inflation by around 0.3%, given oil's significant weight in the national import basket," he added. If the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted, crude oil prices could rise sharply. This would raise the cost of petrol, diesel, and LPG in India, and also affect inflation. Industries like airlines, transport, paints, cement, and logistics, all of which depend heavily on fuel, would face rising also imports liquefied natural gas (LNG), and much of it comes through this strait, especially from Qatar, the world's biggest LNG exporter. If supplies are delayed, it could impact gas-based power plants and manufacturing industries in Indian exporters depend on smooth shipping routes through the Gulf. A delay or rerouting of ships increases freight charges, causes delivery lags, and reduces competitiveness—especially for small exporters. India also exports machinery, textiles, jewellery, and chemicals to Gulf nations. The strait's safety plays a big role in keeping those trade routes ON STOCK MARKETS AND THE RUPEEThe stock market reacts quickly to news from the Gulf. Rising oil prices tend to hurt sectors like airlines, paints, and tyres. On the other hand, energy companies, oil refiners, and defence firms may rupee also comes under pressure as oil becomes more expensive. A weaker rupee increases import costs and may force the Reserve Bank of India to rethink its monetary policy, especially if inflation the Strait of Hormuz becomes unsafe, every Indian could feel the impact. Petrol prices may rise, monthly budgets may tighten, and inflation could increase. India on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory urging its nationals and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) residing in Tehran to move out of the city, as the Iranian capital came under continued aerial attacks from Israeli drones and Indian Embassy in Tehran asked individuals who have the means to leave the city on their own and do so without delay.(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)Must Watch
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Tehran pushes for ceasefire as Trump cuts G7 trip short amid Iran-Israel crisis
Iran has turned to regional powers Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman to help broker a ceasefire — with a nuclear deal on the table as leverage after the conflict with Israel has entered its fifth to news agency Reuters, Tehran asked Gulf leaders to urge US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel to halt its military actions. In return, Iran has signalled its readiness to show flexibility in long-stalled nuclear leaders have reportedly been in constant communication with Washington and Tehran to avoid what could become the largest military confrontation ever between the two regional MADE OFFER FOR ISRAEL-IRAN CEASEFIRE, SAYS MACRON In the latest diplomatic effort, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Monday that Trump had extended an offer to mediate a ceasefire. Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron said, "There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions."Macron also welcomed Trump's early departure from the G7 summit, calling it a "positive signal" in light of ceasefire efforts. "We have to see now whether the sides will follow," Macron TO LEAVE G7 MEET EARLYTrump, who had earlier warned civilians to evacuate Tehran, pointed to the urgency of the situation. Speaking to reporters, he said "I have to be back as soon as I can." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed it on X, saying, "Much was accomplished, but because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.".@POTUS on his early departure from the G7 Summit: "I have to be back early — for obvious reasons." Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 17, 2025advertisementThe G7 summit is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, when Trump has scheduled his first one-on-one meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Trump was also supposed to meet Tuesday in Canada with Ukrainian President Volodymyr of State Marco Rubio is also returning to Washington, DC, tonight with President Donald Trump, a State Department spokesperson the rising tensions, the US maintains that it is not taking military action against Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified on Fox News that Washington remains committed to pursuing diplomacy."We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here," Hegseth said. When asked if Trump still aims for a nuclear deal with Iran, he answered, "Of course."Tune InMust Watch
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Israel pounds Iran for third night, Tehran claims 224 killed, including generals
Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile strikes between Sunday night and early Monday, ignoring international appeals for a ceasefire as hostilities entered their third consecutive accused Israel of targeting its oil refineries and killing the intelligence chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) along with two other senior generals. Iran also said several population centres were hit in the latest wave of to Iranian health officials, the death toll since the Israeli offensive began on Friday has climbed to 224, with 1,277 others injured. Authorities did not specify how many of the casualties were civilians or military personnel. Israel, targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure and military leadership, said Tehran has launched more than 270 missiles since Friday. While most were intercepted by Israel's multi-layered air defence system, 22 managed to breach the shield, hitting residential suburbs, killing 14 people, and injuring 390 others, according to news agency Associated DEVELOPMENTS IN ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT Air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem late on Sunday, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirming "Iranian missiles incoming". Several videos captured the dramatic scene: missiles streaking over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, many intercepted mid-air by Israel's multi-layered defence system. advertisement In swift retaliation, Israel reportedly struck back with targeted airstrikes on Iranian positions, prompting Iran to activate its air defence systems in the southwest, according to local media. Claiming near-total freedom in Iranian airspace, Israel said its Sunday strikes targeted Iran's Defense Ministry, missile launch sites, and factories making air defence components. Iran acknowledged the strikes killed more top generals, including Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi and his deputy, General Hassan Mohaqiq. In a striking revelation of how far Israel was willing to escalate, a US official told the Associated Press that US President Donald Trump blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the country's highest authority, who holds sweeping powers over state policy, the military, and the elite Revolutionary Guard. Meanwhile, India is closely monitoring the security situation in Iran and engaging with its citizens and students residing in the conflict-torn Middle East country. "In some cases, students are being relocated with Embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran. Other feasible options are also under examination. Further updates will follow. Separately, the Embassy is in touch with community leaders regarding welfare and safety," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Israeli strikes have gone beyond Iran's military sites, hitting government buildings and key infrastructure, Iranian authorities said. Among the latest targets were the Foreign Ministry and several energy facilities, including the Shahran oil depot north of Tehran and a fuel tank to the south, both of which caught fire on Sunday. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh and other diplomats posted photos of the Foreign Ministry's office and library, riddled with shrapnel. advertisementIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed mounting international calls for de-escalation, insisting Tel Aviv will pursue its military objectives. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu suggested that regime change in Iran "could certainly be the result" of the ongoing conflict. He also alleged that Israeli intelligence had uncovered Iranian plans to transfer nuclear weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran's state TV aired harrowing scenes from downtown Tehran, showing men and women pulling bloodied, dust-covered children from the rubble of residential buildings struck by Israeli missiles. Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpour claimed that 90% of the 224 people killed on Sunday were civilians. advertisement Early Sunday, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said at least six people — including a 10-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl — were killed when a missile struck a high-rise apartment in Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv. A local police commander told Associated Press that 180 others were wounded and seven remained missing. Residents, dazed and dust-covered, picked through the rubble to salvage belongings as rescue teams combed through mangled steel and broken glass in search of more bodies. Israel launched the offensive with a surprise strike on Friday, killing top Iranian military commanders and damaging nuclear facilities. Iran has vowed to "open the gates of hell" in retaliation. Iran has also reportedly threatened to target the US, the UK and French military bases and ships in the region if they attempted to block Iranian strikes on Israel, news agency Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Donald Trump praised Israel's military offensive against Iran while denying Tehran's claims of direct American involvement. He warned Iran against expanding its retaliation to hit US targets. However, two US officials confirmed to the Associated Press that American forces helped intercept Iranian missiles aimed at Israel during Friday's barrage. Tune InMust Watch
