Yemen official says 40 killed in Aden attacks
Aden: A Yemen health official and witnesses say at least 40 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a missile attack and coordinated suicide bombings in the southern port city of Aden.
The official says the missile struck a military parade underway Thursday in Aden, the temporary seat of the UN-recognised Yemeni government. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to reporters.
The website of the country's Houthi rebels quoted spokesman Brig. Gen. Yehia Sarea as saying the rebels fired a ballistic missile at forces loyal to the United Arab Emirates, a member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015.
The parade was taking place in Aden's neighborhood of Breiqa. The official didn't give a breakdown for the casualties at the parade but said several commanders were among the casualties.
Abdel Dayem Ahmed, a senior police official told The Associated Press that 11 were killed earlier in the day when an explosives-laden car, a bus and three motorcycles targeted a police station during a morning lineup.
Yemeni officials and witnesses say a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police station in the southern city of Aden, killing at least three policemen.
They say the attack took place on Thursday in the city's Omar al-Mokhtar neighborhood and that at least 20 people were wounded, including three civilians.
The bomber drove into the police station's gates shortly before the morning police lineup at the before the start of the workday.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to talk to reporters and the witnesses declined to identify themselves for fear of reprisals.
Aden is the seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government, which has been at war with the rebel Houthis who control the capital, Sanaa, and most of the country's north.
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Iran unrest hits basmati rice exports, prices fall sharply as payment delays mount: Industry body
New Delhi (PTI): Civil unrest in Iran has started impacting India's basmati rice exports to the country, leading to a sharp fall in domestic prices, as exporters face payment delays and mounting uncertainties, an industry body said on Tuesday.
The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) urged exporters to reassess risks on Iranian contracts and adopt secured payment mechanisms, warning against over-leveraging inventories meant for the Iranian market.
India exported USD 468.10 million worth of basmati rice to Iran during April-November of 2025-26 fiscal, totalling 5.99 lakh tonnes, trade data showed.
Iran is India's top basmati rice export destination, but the current financial year has seen growing stress on order flows, payment cycles, and shipment schedules due to the prevailing instability.
The impact is now clearly visible in domestic mandis. Over the past week alone, prices of key basmati varieties have registered a steep decline, reflecting buyer hesitation, delayed contracts and heightened risk perception among exporters.
The domestic price of basmati rice variety 1121 has come down to Rs 80 per kg from Rs 85 per kg last week, while varieties 1509 and 1718 declined to Rs 65 per kg from Rs 70 per kg.
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"Iran has historically been a pillar market for Indian basmati. However, the current internal turmoil has disrupted trade channels, slowed payments and dented buyer confidence," IREF National President Prem Garg said in a statement.
He said exporters must exercise heightened caution, particularly with respect to credit exposure and shipment timelines.
Importers have conveyed their inability to honour existing commitments and remit payments to India, creating uncertainty for exporters, the federation said.
IREF has issued an advisory and appealed to stakeholders to diversify into alternative markets across West Asia, Africa and Europe to cushion any prolonged slowdown in Iran-bound shipments.
"We are not sounding an alarm, but urging prudence. In periods of geopolitical and internal instability, trade is often the first casualty. A calibrated approach is essential to protect both exporters and farmers," Garg noted.
US Tariff Concerns
The federation also addressed concerns over the recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, indicating that countries continuing trade with Iran may face a 25 per cent tariff.
IREF clarified that Indian rice exports to the US are already subject to a 50 per cent tariff, up from 10 per cent earlier.
Despite this, Indian rice exports to the US have remained resilient. India exported 2,40,518 tonnes of Basmati and non-Basmati rice to the US during April-November 2025-26, compared to 2,35,554 tonnes in the entire 2024-25 fiscal.
The US is the 10th largest market for Indian rice globally and the fourth largest for Basmat rice.
"There is limited clarity on whether the proposed 25 per cent tariff would be levied over and above the existing 50 per cent duty," the federation noted, adding that it does not foresee a significant decline in exports even if tariffs rise further, given the unique position of Indian Basmati in global markets.
However, IREF expressed greater concern over developments in Iran, where disruptions in local markets have affected trade settlements. Importers have conveyed their inability to honour commitments and remit payments to India, creating heightened uncertainty.
While similar crises have occurred in the past, the trajectory of the current situation remains unclear and is expected to cause further disturbances in prices, liquidity, and trade sentiment in the weeks ahead, the federation added.
