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UAE stock exchanges rise on optimism about US-Iran Peace Talks
Early trading in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday saw the stock markets?build on the gains of the previous session?as optimism about renewed U.S. - Iran peace talks boosts investor sentiment. Even though Donald Trump said that negotiations to end the war with Tehran could resume this week, the United States announced on Wednesday that it had halted all sea traffic to and from Iran. Trump stated that U.S. officials and Iranian officials may meet again in Pakistan within two days. Vice President JDVance expressed his optimism about the current state of talks, despite the fact that last weekend's discussions were unsuccessful. Dubai's main stock index rose 1.6%. This was boosted by a 2.7% increase in Emaar Properties, the blue-chip developer. Air Arabia, a budget airline, jumped by 3.1%. Aldar Properties grew 2.9% in Abu Dhabi. Reporting by Ateeq Sharif in Bengaluru, Editing by Neil Fullick
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Overnight, Russia launched more than 300 drones and missiles against Ukraine
Ukraine officials reported that Russia had attacked Ukraine with drones and ballistic missiles overnight, targeting port infrastructure to the south. Ukraine's airforce said that Russia launched 324 unmanned aircraft in the time period between 6 p.m. and 1500 GMT on Tuesday, as well as three ballistic missiles. The air defence units destroyed or neutralised 309 drones. However, the missiles and thirteen drones were hit in nine different locations. Oleksandr Gáncha, regional governor of the Dnipro region, confirmed on Telegram that three people were injured by a Russian drone attack overnight on the city. Ganzha posted photos of a building that had a huge hole on one side. Five people were killed and more than 30 injured in a Tuesday missile attack on the city. Ihor Taburets said that four people were treated for injuries after an overnight drone attack in Cherkasy. Ivan Fedorov said that a woman was killed early Wednesday morning in shelling of Zaporizhzhia, located in the south-east of Ukraine. Fedorov wrote on Telegram that a 74 year old saleswoman had been killed at a kiosk. The attack also damaged nearby residential buildings, a business premises, and car parks. Oleh Kiper, regional governor of Odesa, Ukraine, reported that port infrastructure in the southern region on the Black Sea was subjected to another drone attack. Damages were reported at administrative and warehouse buildings. Officials from the Kyiv area also reported an attack by drone.
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China ordered Maersk and MSC not to operate Panama ports, according to FT.
The Financial Times reported that China has told the Danish shipping company Maersk and Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company to stop operating ports on the Panama Canal. The report cited 'two people who were familiar with the discussions' as saying that Maersk and MSC Shipping received a directive from China's state planner to immediately withdraw from the Balboa and Cristobal port. Could not confirm the report immediately. Maersk Shipping, China's Foreign Ministry, and the State Planner did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The report stated that Maersk and MSC were warned not to "engaged in illegal activities which harm the interests Chinese companies and to maintain commercial ethics and international laws." Panama has granted temporary concessions of 18 months to keep the terminals operational. APM Terminals is a unit?of Maersk and TIL Panama is a?unit?of MSC. CK Hutchison is facing heavy criticism in China after announcing a plan to sell 43 ports across 23 countries in March '2025, including Balboa & Cristobal, to a group led by a family-run Italian shipping company MSC and BlackRock. (Reporting and editing by Sonia Cheema, Subhranshu Sahu, and Gnaneshwarrajan in Bengaluru)
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Reports from FT claim that Iran used a Chinese spy satellite to target US military bases.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that Iran had secretly purchased a Chinese spy satellite. This gave the Islamic Republic the ability to target U.S. bases in the Middle East during the recent war. According to the report, which cited leaked Iranian documents, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force acquired the TEE-01B satellite in 2024, after it had been launched from China. The newspaper reported that Iranian military commanders had directed the satellite to monitor major U.S. Military sites. It cited time-stamped coordinates lists, satellite imagery and orbital analyses. The images were captured in March, before and after missile and drone strikes?on these locations. Could not verify the report. Earth Eye Co, the CIA, the Pentagon, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and The White House did not respond immediately to our requests for comment. According to the report, as part of the agreement, the IRGC gained access to commercial ground station operated by Emposat. Emposat is a Beijing-based 'provider of satellite data and control services with a nationwide network that extends across Asia, Latin America, and other regions. FT reported that satellite images captured on March 13-14 and 15 showed the Prince Sultan 'Air Base 'in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. president Donald Trump confirmed on March 14 that US planes had been?hit? at the base. The report states that the satellite monitored Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, in Jordan, as well as locations near the Fifth Fleet Naval Base in?Manama in Bahrain and Erbil Airport in Iraq around the time IRGC claimed attacks on facilities there. Reporting by Shivani Tana in Bengaluru, Editing by Sonali and Neil Fullick
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The day after Gulf Exit, a sanctioned tanker returns to the Strait of Hormuz
Shipping data revealed that the U.S. sanctioned tanker Rich Starry returned to the Strait of Hormuz?on Wednesday, after?exiting?the Gulf?the day before. It failed to overcome a U.S. ban on vessels visiting Iranian ports. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, announced the blockade Sunday following the failure of weekend talks between the U.S. government and Iran in Islamabad. The U.S. Central Command reported on X that "no ships were able to get past the U.S. Blockade during the first 24 hour period." Six vessels complied to U.S. orders to turn around and re-enter a port in Iran. On Tuesday, the first of the U.S.-imposed blockade, at least eight ships crossed the waterway. Two oil tankers were stopped by a U.S. destroyer on Tuesday as they attempted to leave the Iranian Port of Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman, according to a U.S. government official. U.S. Sanctions were imposed on The Rich Starry, its owner Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co., and their dealings with Iran. The company was unable to be reached for comment. Kpler data revealed that the Rich Starry was a medium-range vessel carrying around 250,000 barrels methanol. It was loaded in the port of Hamriyah, United Arab Emirates. The blockade is causing even more uncertainty for oil companies, war risk insurers and shippers. Industry sources reported on Tuesday that traffic is still a fraction of what it was before the U.S.-Israeli 'war on Iran' began on February 28. Kpler data and LSEG showed that the Very Large Crude Carrier Alicia, a vessel sanctioned by the United States, which has a history of transporting Iranian oil since 2023, is entering the Gulf on Wednesday via the strait. Kpler data shows that the empty?tanker capable of carrying 2 million barrels is headed to Iraq on Thursday to load a cargo. According to the data, the Malta flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios 1 entered the Gulf on Wednesday via the strait in a second transit attempt. The tanker was one of several vessels which attempted to enter the Gulf during Sunday's ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. According to data and trade sources, it is headed?to Iraq for Basra crude to?Vietnam’s Nghi Son refinery. Eastern Mediterranean Maritime which manages Agios Fanourios 1 and Nghi Son Refinery & Petrochemical have not responded to comments immediately.
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The day after Gulf Exit, a sanctioned tanker returns to the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry,?arrived back at the Strait of?Hormuz Wednesday, after leaving the Gulf the previous day,?shipping information showed. It failed to?break a U.S.?blockade?on ships calling at Iranian port. U.S. president Donald Trump announced the ban on Sunday, after the weekend talks between the U.S. government and Iran in Islamabad failed to produce a result. The U.S. Central Command reported on X that "no ships were able to get past the U.S. Blockade during the first 24 hour period." Six vessels complied with the direction of U.S. Forces to turn around and re-enter a port in Iran. On Tuesday, the first U.S.-imposed blockade day, at least eight ships crossed the waterway. The Chinese tanker was one of them. Two oil tankers were stopped by a U.S. destroyer Tuesday as they attempted to leave the Iranian Port of 'Chabahar in the Gulf of Oman, according to a U.S. government official. U.S. sanctions were placed on The Rich Starry, and its owner Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co., for their dealings with Iran. No immediate comment could be obtained from the company. Kpler data revealed that the Rich Starry was a medium-range methanol tanker, which carried about 250,000 barrels. It was loaded in the port of Hamriyah (United Arab Emirates). LSEG data reveals that the Very 'Large Crude Carrier Alicia is another vessel sanctioned by the United States, which entered the Gulf on Wednesday via the strait. Kpler data shows that the empty tanker capable of carrying two million barrels is headed to Iraq on Thursday to load a cargo. The blockade?has created even more uncertainty for shippers and oil companies, as well as war risk insurers. Industry sources reported on Tuesday that traffic is only a fraction of the 130 daily crossings before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began in February.
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Official: US destroyer intercepts two oil tanks attempting to leave Iran
Two oil tankers were intercepted by a U.S. destroyer on Tuesday as they attempted to leave Iran, just a day after President Donald Trump’s blockade took effect. They were instructed to turn back, according to a 'U.S. Unnamed official said. Officially, the ships left Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman. The warship contacted them via radio communication. Uncertain whether there were any other warnings. The disclosure provides more detail on the beginning of Trump's Blockade. It aims to press Iran to stop its effective closing of the Strait of Hormuz. This is a chokepoint for around 20% of world oil. Trump hopes that 'the blockade' will force Iran into accepting America’s terms to end a war started by the U.S. on February 28th, including opening up the Strait of Hormuz. Trump claims that this was also part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, which expires next week. Experts are cautious. Noam Raydan, at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that tracking data showed one tanker doing a U turn after the blockade began. However, he cautioned a number of ships using?Iranian crude oil to go dark. We don't yet know how effective the product is. Raydan stated that we are still on day two. The U.S. official said that the two tankers are?among six merchant vessels which the U.S. Central Command stated in a press release earlier on Tuesday, had followed orders to turn around and re-enter a port of Iran on the Gulf of Oman. Central Command has confirmed that no ships have been able to pass the blockade, which was put into place on Monday morning at 10:00 in Washington (1400 GMT). More than 10,000 troops According to the U.S. Military, this massive blockade involves more than 10,000 U.S. troops, a dozen or so warships, and dozens of planes. The U.S. Military says it will support freedom of movement for vessels that transit the Strait of Hormuz as long as they do not go to or from Iran. Trump announced the blockade after the weekend talks failed to bring an end to the war. Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel on Monday, before falling on Tuesday in hopes of more talks. If Trump's plan succeeds, it would remove Iran's biggest?point of leverage when negotiating with the U.S. He could also open the Strait to global trade again. Experts say that a blockade is a war act which requires a large number of warships to be committed for an extended period of time. This could trigger a new round of retaliation by Tehran, and strain an already fragile ceasefire. The threat of Iran to the shipping industry has caused oil prices worldwide to soar by about 50%. Around 5,000 people are believed to have been killed in the hostilities. The U.S. has weakened Iran's army by thousands of military strikes. Analysts say that Tehran emerged from the conflict with a hard-liner leadership and a hidden stockpile highly enriched nuclear uranium. Raydan warned that Iran would likely retaliate if the blockade was successful and lasted for a long time. He cited Iranian threats to attack Gulf States which host U.S. troops and Iran's previous attacks on ships. Raydan stated that "we're in a testing period." (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese; Idrees Al and Phil Stewart contributed to this report).
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Gulf crisis affects Australian and New Zealand companies, from airlines to banks
The U.S. and Israel war against?Iran is causing financial strains for companies in Australia and New Zealand. Higher fuel prices are stoking inflation, affecting consumer and business confidence, and weighing on corporate earnings. Westpac Banking Corp. and Qantas Airways warned Tuesday that the soaring fuel prices, and consumers' struggles with high costs and borrowing fees, could affect their earnings. Some of the companies from Australia and New Zealand have reported an impact on their business due to the Middle East conflict. Air New Zealand New Zealand's Flag carrier announced a price increase in March after suspending its earnings forecast for the full year. The airline announced on April 7 that it would cut flights in May and June. This will affect?about 4% of all flights and 1% total passengers. a2 Milk New Zealand's A2 Milk has cut its profit forecast for fiscal 2026 as higher freight costs and supply chain disruptions due to the conflict have affected its China-label formula infant milk product in its largest market. Cleanaway Waste Management: The company's full-year earnings forecast was cut by A$20,000,000 ($14.17,000,000) largely due to higher costs, reduced activity and timing differences of cost recovery. Fonterra New Zealand's largest dairy producer stated that the conflict could impact?its supply chains and increase its inventory and costs in second half of year while also contributing to volatility in global commodities prices. Orora: Orora, the packaging?company, has lowered its earnings forecasts for its French unit Saverglass. It also cancelled its share-buyback program. The company cited the war as the reason. Due to the closures of shipping routes, the company also stopped bottle production in its glass production facility located at Ras al-Khaimah (United Arab Emirates). Qantas: Qantas Airways is Australia's national carrier. It has raised its fuel costs outlook for the second-half of the year up to A$800m. However, it said that its planned A$150m share buyback program had not yet begun. The airline cited the volatile and sharply increased jet fuel prices. Qantas has increased fares to offset the rising cost of its flights and shifted them towards stronger routes like Paris and Rome where demand is strong. They have also reduced domestic capacity by about 5 percentage points during the June quarter. Virgin Australia Virgin Australia announced in mid-March it would be adjusting its fares as rising costs in the aviation industry are "exacerbated" by the Middle East situation. Westpac: Westpac, Australia's no. Westpac, Australia's no. Westpac's net interest margin for its Treasury and Markets division has been weakened amid the interest rate volatility related to the conflict. A weaker outlook is already leading to higher credit provisioning. Westpac's provision for 'potential bad debt' is at its highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic. Auckland International Airport Auckland International Airport in New Zealand said that flights to the Middle East from Auckland were affected. Airport operator: The Middle Eastern routes experienced a 81% decrease in passenger numbers in March compared to a year earlier, and a 73% drop in seat capacity. $1 = 1.4118 Australian Dollars (Reporting and editing by Sherry Phillips, Maju Samuel, Jasmeen Shaikh in Bengaluru)
New York Times Business News - April 15, 2019
These are the most popular?stories from the New York Times business pages. These stories have not been?verified and we cannot vouch for their accuracy.
Both sides reported that they had a positive discussion, although it wasn't immediately clear if a framework for peace was agreed upon.
OpenAI announced that it would share its new A.I. GPT-5.4 Cyber, a?model that will be shared with hundreds of organizations before being expanded to thousands more in the next few weeks.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that he will temporarily suspend the federal gas tax from 'early September onwards. He is the latest country to act to assist consumers who are facing rising prices at the pumps due to 'the war in Iran and disruptions to global energy markets.
- 'The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan aircraft safety bill. This has set up a'showdown' with the Senate where leaders have proclaimed that certain provisions are not enough to prevent midair collisions. (Compiled by Bengaluru Newsroom)
(source: Reuters)