New Delhi, India – Demand for India’s Basmati, the long-grain aromatic rice, from traditional buyers in the Middle East, the US and Europe has dropped as it has become costly. The reason is the escalating tensions in the Red Sea, the shortest and most efficient trade route for ships moving from Asia to Europe. Attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen on commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea...

Iraqi-based group seeking to de-escalate as Washington mulls response to deadly Jordan strike. Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah has announced the suspension of hostile operations against US troops, as Washington ponders its response to a deadly drone attack that left three of its soldiers dead. The group’s attempt to de-escalate late on Tuesday, which it said was motivated by a desire not to “embarrass” the Iraqi government, was met with...