War Financial News

Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Saturday it was deeply concerned by reports about a possible impending transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia. In a statement emailed to reporters, the ministry said the deepening military co-operation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East, and called on the international community to increase pressure on Iran and Russia. CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Iran had transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, citing unidentified sources.

intelligence agencies said Saturday that Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia is a significant achievement that could change the narrative of the grinding 2 1/2-year war. Richard Moore, the head of MI6, said Kyiv's surprise move in August to seize territory in Russia's Kursk region was «typically audacious and bold on the part of the Ukrainians, to try and change the game». He said the offensive had «brought the war home to ordinary Russians». Speaking alongside Moore at a rare public event in London, CIA Director William Burns said the offensive was a «significant achievement» that had exposed vulnerabilities in the Russian military. Burns also warned of the growing and «troubling» defence relationship between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea that he said threatens both Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East. North Korea has sent ammunition and missiles to Russia to use against Ukraine, while Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones.

Alex Garland’s «Civil War» is finally making its debut on MAX on Friday, September 13. The film stars Kirsten Dunst as a veteran photojournalist covering a violent war that’s divided America; She reluctantly allows an aspiring photographer, played by Cailee Spaeny, to tag along as she, an editor (Stephen McKinley Henderson) and a reporter (Wagner Moura) make the dangerous journey to Washington, D.C., to interview the president (Nick Offerman), a blustery, rising despot who has given himself a third term, taken to attacking his citizens and shut himself off from the press. Joey King stars in Netflix’s adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies,” about a future society in which everyone is required to have beautifying cosmetic surgery at age 16. Streaming on Friday, September 13, McG directed the film, in which King’s character inadvertently finds herself in the midst of an uprising against the status quo. “Outer Banks” star Chase Stokes plays King’s best friend.

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir accepted that it was involved in the 1999 Kargil War on Saturday, reported Pakistani news channel G News Network. Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Aziz, Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif had accepted involvement, but not when they were in office. Munir was speaking at an event on the occasion of Pakistan Army Day. He said that the Pakistani army had given tough fight to its enemies over the years. «Be it 1948, 1965, 1971 or 1999 Kargil Pakistan-India wars, thousands of Shuhadas have sacrificed their life for the country and nation,» he said, adding that sacrifices continued even today. Munir said that the Pakistani army was brave and knew the importance and the cost of independence

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded that the state and central governments complete work on the Barmery refinery-cum-petrochemical project within the specified time frame. Gehlot said there were reports that 79 per cent of the work was completed by May and, in such a situation, it might take another year to complete the remainder. «The state government should coordinate with the central government, HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited) and ensure completion of the refinery work within the stipulated time frame,» he said in a post on X on Saturday.

Putin was Team Trump. Top Kremlin officials cracked open champagne bottles in the early hours of Nov. 9 as the businessman-turned-politician emerged as the surprise victor in the US election. When it comes to determining where the Russian leader stands today, there is no easy answer. US intelligence seems certain he wants Donald Trump back in the White House. Putin, meanwhile is reveling in making cryptic comments that often double as needling observations: such as when he praised Joe Biden for his age and experience, or now Kamala Harris for her “infectious” laughter. The view that has crystallized in Moscow, according to five people familiar with the latest thinking in the Kremlin, is that there really isn’t much reason to raise a glass this time around if Trump returns.

Nexus. By Yuval Noah Harari. Random House; 528 pages; $35. Fern Press; £28 “Let Truth and falsehood grapple," argued John Milton in Areopagitica, a pamphlet published in 1644 defending the freedom of the press.

right to food accused Israel of carrying out a "starvation campaign" against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an allegation that Israel vehemently denies. In a report this week, investigator Michael Fakhri claimed it began two days after Hamas' surprise attack in southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people, when Israel's military offensive in response blocked all food, water, fuel and other supplies into Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said accusations of Israel limiting humanitarian aid were «outrageously false».

Israeli troops shot and killed a Turkish-American woman who had been taking part in a protest against settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, Palestinian and Turkish officials said. The White House said it was deeply disturbed by the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi and called on Israel to investigate. Turkey's foreign ministry said she was shot in the head, and placed blame on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for her death. Palestinian officials described her as a 26-year-old activist from Seattle who held both U.S. and Turkish citizenship.

Bangladesh's national anthem, a leading cultural organisation — Udichi Shilpi Gosthi — on Friday organised a nationwide protest against radicals demanding a new anthem and flag. In Dhaka, Udichi members and some other cultural organisations protested by singing the national anthem — written by Rabindranath Tagore. Speakers at the event said they will not tolerate any conspiracy against the country's national anthem. They also promised a united front against all malicious forces if such attempts are made.

Rajnath Singh on Friday responded to his earlier statement that "Armed Forces need to be prepared for war". The Defence Minister said that he gave that statement so that India's peace cannot be disturbed under any circumstances. Highlighting India's message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', Singh said that India has always advocated for peace but keeping in mind the today's geopolitical situation, India always needs to prepare for war to establish peace in India and world. Speaking to media persons, Rajnath Singh said, «India is the only country in the world that has given the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. India has always advocated for peace and it will always. But today given the geopolitical situation, I told the army that to maintain peace in India and the world, we should always be ready for war. I said so that India's peace is not disturbed under any circumstances.»

Fed Chief Jerome Powell unambiguously stated at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium that “the time has come for policy to adjust.” Clearly, barring unforeseen circumstances, the rate-cutting cycle in the US will start in September. Powell’s comment, “the upside risk to inflation has diminished and the downside risk to unemployment has increased,” is, without any doubt, a more dovish message than the markets had expected.

Mint. The talent war is playing out between Indus Law, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, JSA Advocates & Solicitors, Khaitan & Co, Trilegal, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and even boutique firms built by erstwhile senior partners of these law firms. There are multiple reasons, including the increase in M&As, regulatory filings, expansion of smaller firms that need legal help to set up different businesses, among other things. As a result, senior partners are setting up boutique firms and offering equities to former colleagues to leave the more established practices and join their new ventures.

Uttarakhand government has said that participation of state employees in morning and evening meetings and other cultural and social activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will not be considered a violation of Uttarakhand State Employees Conduct Rules-2002. In this regard, Additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan has issued orders that state employees can participate in RSS programs provided this work does not cause any hindrance in their official duties and responsibilities. In a letter dated September 5 Additional Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan said, «After due deliberation by the Government, it has been decided that participation of any Government employee in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) branch (morning/evening meeting) and other cultural/social activities will not be considered as a violation of Uttarakhand State Employees Conduct Rules, 2002 (as amended from time to time).»

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that the Biden administration believes that the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is 90 per cent agreed on, adding, «That's how close we believe we are,» Al Jazeera reported. «Nothing is negotiated until everything is negotiated,» Kirby said. He noted that several detailed issues remain to be resolved, adding that «that's when things get difficult.» «You call that optimistic. I call that accurate. That's how close we believe we are. That's where we have gotten to. The basic framework of the deal has been agreed to,» Kirby said.

Israel's Foreign Minister met on Thursday with the visiting Romanian Foreign Minister, Luminita Odobescu. Katz said he thanked Odobescu for her continued support after the October 7 Hamas terror massacre and for Israel's efforts to free all the hostages. He also told Odobescu that Israel's war is «the war of the entire Western world against the Iranian axis of evil and its proxies.»

Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his apology after a statue of the warrior king Shivaji at Malvan in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district collapsed last month. Gandhi, who was in Sangli for a Congress party programme, said the collapse of the statue was an «insult» to the memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji and that the PM should apologise to every person in Maharashtra for the incident.

Two lawmakers say that Ukraine’s parliament has approved the appointment of a new foreign minister

Prince Harry, actor Matt Damon, and World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres are set to speak at the 2024 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York on Sept. 23 and 24, the Clinton Foundation announced Thursday

BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh has sought for banning a Kuki group alleging the group has been taking financial aid to buy lethal drones, bombs and ammunition Singh, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, appealed to the Home Ministry to ban the Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) alleging the group has been taking financial aid to buy lethal drones, bombs and ammunition. The MLA stated in X uploaded purported photos of a person with an identity card under the name 'Haopu Vaiphei' and the words 'ITLF Drone Squad'.

Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo spent hundreds of millions of dollars over decades building demand for their soft drinks in Muslim-majority countries including Egypt to Pakistan. Now, both face a challenge from local sodas in those countries due to consumer boycotts that target the globe-straddling brands as symbols of America, and by extension Israel, at a time of war in Gaza. In Egypt, sales of Coke have cratered this year, while local brand V7 exported three times as many bottles of its own cola in the Middle East and the wider region than last year. In Bangladesh, an outcry forced Coca-Cola to cancel an ad campaign against the boycott. And across the Middle East, Pepsi's rapid growth evaporated after the Gaza war started in October. Pakistani corporate executive Sunbal Hassan kept Coke and Pepsi off her wedding menu in Karachi in April. She said she didn't want to feel her money had reached the tax coffers of the United States, Israel's staunchest ally.