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Can the US and Iran bridge their differences?

The U.S. and Iran are set to hold peace talks in Pakistan, which has been mediating, but remain deeply divided on key issues, even though President Donald Trump has ​said proposals presented by Tehran were a "basis" for talks.Each side is ​sticking to competing demands for a deal to end the war that could shape the Middle East for generations.WHERE DO BOTH SIDES ​STAND?An Iranian delegation is due to arrive in Islamabad for talks based on a 10-point proposal, which shows little overlap with a 15-point plan Washington previously put forward, suggesting there will be major gaps to bridge.For example, Iran's proposal includes a demand to enrich uranium, which Washington previously ruled out and Trump has insisted is non-negotiable. The 10 points also do not address Iran's missile capabilities, which Israel and the ‌U.S. have both said ⁠must be ⁠dramatically curtailed.Tehran has said its formidable missile arsenal is non-negotiable, although it is unclear how much of thos...

Parth Ajit Pawar takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/kqUGAmj

Fed minutes show growing openness to rate hikes at March meeting

A growing group of Federal Reserve policymakers felt last month ​that interest rate hikes might be needed to counter inflation that continued to exceed the central bank's 2% target, particularly given the inflationary impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, according to the minutes of their March 17-18 meeting. "Some participants judged that there was a strong case for a two-sided description ‌of the (Federal Open ⁠Market) Committee's future ⁠interest rate decisions in the post-meeting statement, reflecting the possibility that upwards adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation were ​to remain at above-target levels," the minutes said.At the January meeting a smaller group of "several" officials were willing to open the door to ​possible rate hikes, but by March and the outbreak of the war "many participants pointed to the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected amid a persistent ...

IOC, BPCL, HPCL lose Rs 6/litre on diesel

New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL and HPCL on average lost about ₹6 on every litre of diesel sold in the retail market in the fourth quarter ended March 31, compared with a ₹5.50 profit a year earlier, according to brokerage estimates.Petrol margins narrowed sharply to ₹2.90 per litre from ₹8.50 a year ago, according to ICICI Securities. The squeeze on margins is primarily due to the Iran war, which sent crude oil prices soaring in March even as retail prices of regular petrol and diesel remained static in the domestic market.The fourth-quarter performance of these state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) was likely weaker, "driven by markedly higher retail fuel losses and a sharp rise in LPG under-recovery, partially offset by resilient gross refining margins (GRMs)", ICICI Securities said.Also Read: Iran cuts direct US contact after Trump threat 130094965 It predicted an 82% year-on-year drop in the combined quarterly profit of Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL.LPG under-reco...

Rain forces abandonment of KKR's match vs PBKS

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/t5G6fCu

Cancer drug makers seek 50% price hike

Mumbai | Delhi: Manufacturing of cancer medicines such as carboplatin, oxaliplatin and cisplatin has become unviable due to a surge in the price of platinum, a critical component in these compounds, claim local drug producers. They have approached the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority seeking a 50% increase in the maximum price at which these products can be sold to patients.The ceiling price for carboplatin is currently ₹61.10 per 10 mg/ml vial. For cisplatin, it ranges from ₹70 to ₹300 based on the drug strength.Cipla, Intas, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Zydus Lifesciences, Emcure, Fresenius and Hetero are the top among dozens of local companies making these drugs."If the government does not intervene and take corrective steps in public interest, it may threaten our profitability and availability of an important first-line cancer treatment," an industry executive told ET.130046045Geopolitical uncertainty has pushed the price of platinum to almost double in the last ...

Dial back rhetoric: Critics to Trump on Iran

Washington: On Easter Sunday morning, US President Donald Trump surprised both friends and detractors with a profane social media post warning Iran that it will be "living in Hell" if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz, drawing calls for dialling back the rhetoric."Open the F****n' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, hours after the US armed forces carried out a daring operation to rescue a missing crew member of a fighter jet shot down inside Iran.Early Sunday morning, Trump praised the crew member who was rescued and the special military team that got him safely out from deep inside the mountains of Iran. Also Read: Trump appears to extend Iran deadline in cryptic postMinutes later, the president vowed that Iran can expect heavy bombardment - very soon.Former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had a public falling out with Trump before she left ...