Author: EchoAsiaNews

Global oil prices surged on Monday while US stock futures edged lower, as stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran continued to disrupt Middle East energy exports and heighten uncertainty across financial markets. Benchmark Brent crude climbed more than 2% to reach $107.97 per barrel in early Asian trading, marking a three-week high and intensifying concerns over inflation. The sustained rise in energy prices has led traders to scale back expectations of interest rate cuts this year. Futures linked to the S&P 500 slipped 0.3%, following a record close in the cash market on Friday driven by strong demand…

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck parts of northern Pakistan on Monday, jolting Islamabad, Peshawar and multiple districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Seismic Monitoring Centre. Tremors were widely felt in urban centres and surrounding المناطق, including Swat, Nowshera, Shangla and Buner, causing brief panic among residents. The Seismic Monitoring Centre said the epicentre was located in the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border region, with the quake originating at a depth of 170 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage. Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to seismic activity due to its position along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic…

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is severely disrupting the supply of critical raw materials used in printed circuit boards (PCBs), triggering sharp price increases and placing fresh strain on the global electronics industry, according to industry sources and executives. The crisis marks a new setback for manufacturers already struggling with elevated memory chip costs, as the widening impact of the Iran-linked conflict continues to disrupt supply chains, petrochemicals, and oil flows. The disruption intensified after Iran struck Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex in early April, forcing a shutdown in the production of high-purity polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin —…

A second round of US–Iran talks may take place as early as Sunday, as Pakistan is expected to brief Washington on the results of its consultations with the visiting Iranian foreign minister, according to informed sources. In an important diplomatic development, Iran’s foreign minister has arrived in Pakistan at a time when expectations are rising for renewed dialogue between Tehran and Washington. The visit follows informal discussions held after the first round of talks, which helped establish a foundation for continued engagement between the two sides. Officials familiar with the matter stated that meetings in Islamabad will mainly focus on…

Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in the forests of northern Japan as authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 3,200 residents, government officials said. The fires have been burning for three days in mountainous areas of Japan’s Iwate region, affecting around 700 hectares (1,730 acres), according to local authorities. A large plume of smoke, reportedly visible and detectable from about 30 kilometres away, was seen rising from a valley near the town of Otsuchi. Firefighting helicopters were deployed to drop water over the affected forest areas, while fire engines worked to contain the blaze near residential zones. Officials said…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the attendance of spectators at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final following a request from franchise owners, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday. In a post on X, Naqvi stated that he had requested the prime minister to allow fans back into stadiums. He added that although the premier was initially inclined to permit spectators, he had highlighted that austerity measures were still in place nationwide, particularly to reduce fuel consumption. Naqvi said the prime minister “graciously approved” crowd attendance for the final after repeated requests from franchise owners.…

Palestinians in the West Bank and a central area of Gaza are voting in municipal elections, marking the first electoral process since the Gaza war, amid limited political competition and widespread public disillusionment. Nearly 1.5 million registered voters in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and around 70,000 voters in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah area are eligible to cast ballots, according to the Ramallah-based Central Elections Commission. Most candidate lists are either aligned with President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party or consist of independent groups. No lists affiliated with Hamas are participating, while several local tickets include figures linked to smaller political factions or…

The government of Pakistan has increased the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs26.77 per litre with immediate effect, citing rising global oil prices and fiscal requirements linked to commitments with the International Monetary Fund. Under the revised rates, petrol has been set at Rs393.35 per litre and high-speed diesel at Rs380.19 per litre. The increase represents a rise of more than 7 percent for both fuels. Officials said the adjustment reflects changes in international energy markets and the government’s need to meet revenue targets in the final phase of the fiscal year. Authorities also partially restored the petroleum levy…

YouTube has expanded access to its AI-driven likeness detection tool to include Hollywood celebrities and entertainers, in an effort to combat the growing spread of deepfake content targeting public figures. The tool, which was first introduced last month for government officials, journalists, and political candidates, identifies videos where a person’s face is digitally altered or generated using artificial intelligence and allows users to request removal of such content. The platform said the expanded rollout will now include actors, musicians, talent agencies, and management companies, even if the individuals do not maintain a YouTube channel. According to YouTube, the system scans…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has undergone successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, according to a statement released alongside his annual medical report Netanyahu stated that a malignant tumor was detected during a routine checkup and was treated with targeted radiation therapy, which he said removed the condition completely. The medical report confirmed that he is currently in good health. The report and Netanyahu’s statement did not specify when the treatment took place. He said he delayed the release of the medical report by two months, claiming the move was intended to prevent what he described as Iranian…