Author: EchoAsiaNews

Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as heightened geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran fueled supply concerns, with markets closely watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Brent crude futures rose 57 cents, or 0.5%, to $110.34 a barrel by 1202 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $1.26, or 1.1%, to $113.67 a barrel. The upward pressure came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of stronger action if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passageway that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Trump…

India has reached a key milestone in its civil nuclear programme after a domestically designed reactor achieved “criticality,” marking the start of a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), located in Kalpakkam, has now entered a crucial pre-operational phase ahead of electricity generation. Criticality signifies that the reactor can maintain a continuous nuclear reaction, a prerequisite for moving toward full power output. Modi described the development as a “defining step” in India’s nuclear journey, noting that the advanced reactor is designed to produce more fissile material than it…

The Philippines on Tuesday confirmed the death of a second national in the ongoing Middle East conflict, after a missile strike hit a residential building in Haifa. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the Filipina victim was killed on Sunday “alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law” when their home was struck. Authorities did not officially release the identities, although local media reports identified the woman as Lucille-Jean. Israeli emergency services reported that the bodies of four individuals were recovered from the rubble of the building following an hours-long rescue operation after the missile impact. The incident underscores the growing…

Protesters in Diamer on Tuesday called off their sit-in and reopened the Karakoram Highway (KKH) after successful negotiations with the district administration, restoring traffic flow after a two-day blockade. Police said stranded vehicles and passengers, including tourists and patients, began moving toward their destinations from both sides of the highway, which had remained closed since Sunday due to protests in the Thore area and other parts of the district. The sit-in was organised by people affected by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, who had blocked the highway to press for implementation of a 2025 agreement regarding compensation and development measures. Protest leader…

Authorities in Rawalpindi have imposed a 15-day ban on public gatherings under Section 144 of the CrPC, citing security concerns ahead of planned protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf near Adiala Jail and elsewhere in the district. In an order issued on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema enforced restrictions from April 6 to April 20, prohibiting rallies, sit-ins, and assemblies of five or more people across the district. The administration said the decision followed a meeting of the District Intelligence Committee (DIC), which warned of an “imminent threat” to law and order, particularly around sensitive installations, major roads, and key…

Inflation in the Philippines accelerated sharply to 4.1% in March, its highest level in nearly two years, as surging global fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict intensified economic pressures on the import-dependent economy, official data showed Tuesday. The March figure marks a steep rise from 2.4% in February and represents the highest inflation rate since July 2024, underscoring the impact of sustained volatility in global energy markets following the ongoing confrontation involving Iran. Authorities have already declared a “national energy emergency”, as the country grapples with rising import costs and supply uncertainties. In response, Manila has moved to…

Iran has stated that it has finalized its response to recent ceasefire proposals communicated through intermediary channels, according to remarks from a Foreign Ministry spokesperson reported by Reuters. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that Tehran has outlined its positions and demands based on national interests and has already conveyed them via indirect channels. He added that negotiations cannot proceed under conditions of ultimatums or threats of war crimes. Baghaei further noted that previously proposed U.S. initiatives, including a reported 15-point plan, were rejected by Iran on the grounds that they were excessive. Reiterating Tehran’s stance, Baghaei said that clearly articulating its…

Türkiye is continuing efforts to secure the safe transit of eight ships carrying 156 personnel, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said, according to Anadolu. He noted that the number of Turkish-owned vessels operating in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz has decreased to 12, as authorities coordinate measures to facilitate their safe movement through the area.

A strike targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut shortly after an evacuation warning issued by the Israeli army, according to footage reported by Agence France-Presse. Live visuals showed thick smoke rising from the impacted area, which is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. The district has reportedly been subjected to multiple strikes in recent periods, along with repeated evacuation warnings that have prompted many residents to leave the area. The incident reflects ongoing tensions in and around Beirut’s southern districts, where security conditions remain volatile amid continued military activity and precautionary alerts.

A senior Iranian official has told Reuters that Iran will not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for a temporary ceasefire, indicating that Tehran seeks a more permanent resolution to ongoing tensions rather than short-term arrangements. The official stated that Iran does not believe the United States is prepared to commit to a lasting ceasefire. According to the official, Iran has received a ceasefire proposal put forward by Pakistan and is currently reviewing it. However, Tehran reportedly maintains that it will not accept externally imposed deadlines or pressure in making its decision. The remarks highlight Iran’s cautious…