Author: EchoAsiaNews

Samsung Electronics and its South Korean workers’ union have agreed to resume negotiations over employee bonuses, the union said on Tuesday, in a move aimed at averting a possible strike that could disrupt production at the global technology giant. The talks follow a recent vote by union members to authorise a strike if management failed to adequately address long‑standing demands on bonus and compensation structures. The union represents roughly 90,000 workers, accounting for more than 70% of Samsung’s South Korea workforce, highlighting the scale of the labour force involved. Last week’s vote raised the possibility of work action that could…

A prominent Canadian Sikh activist has said he will not be silenced after receiving fresh warnings of credible threats to his life and that of his family, raising concerns among civil liberties advocates and the Sikh diaspora. Moninder Singh, who heads the Sikh Federation of Canada, said in a recent statement that he had been informed by police of a “credible threat” following earlier cautions in previous years. In video remarks shared with media, Singh rejected calls for silence, saying withdrawing from public life was not an option in the face of intimidation. Police officers, acting on a duty-to-warn notification,…

At least 208 children have been killed in Iran since the outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict on February 28, according to the head of Iran’s emergency services. In a statement published by the state broadcaster IRIB, Jafar Miadfar said that 168 of the deaths resulted from a US missile strike on a girls’ school in Minab city. Miadfar noted that 13 of the children were under the age of five, and the youngest victim was a three-day-old infant. The escalating civilian toll highlights the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict, which has seen widespread missile and airstrikes across multiple Iranian…

The US dollar edged higher on Tuesday as global markets adopted a cautious stance amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, even after US President Donald Trump delayed planned strikes on Iran’s power grid. “The news overnight is giving a breather to volatility at least, but it’s difficult to see that this is going to trigger a risk-on trend,” said Rodrigo Catril, currency strategist at National Australia Bank. Markets remain uncertain whether Washington’s move signals genuine negotiations with Tehran or a temporary retreat from volatile rhetoric. Analysts said investors are monitoring both geopolitical developments and Trump’s policy track record for guidance.…

Pakistan has emerged as a central player in ongoing backchannel diplomacy between the United States and Iran, as efforts intensify to de-escalate the widening regional conflict. According to officials, Islamabad, alongside Turkiye and Egypt, played a key role in facilitating indirect communication between Washington and Tehran, contributing to a temporary pause in planned US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The diplomatic effort comes on the 24th day of the conflict, with US President Donald Trump announcing a delay in strikes after what he described as “productive conversations” with Iran, raising hopes for a potential resolution. Sources familiar with the process…

China is carrying out a large-scale effort to map the ocean floor across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, in a move experts say could significantly enhance its submarine warfare capabilities against the United States and its allies. The operation involves a network of research vessels and underwater sensors collecting detailed data on seabed terrain and ocean conditions, information considered critical for submarine navigation, concealment and detection. Among the vessels involved is the Dong Fang Hong 3, which has conducted repeated missions near strategically sensitive areas including waters around Taiwan, Guam, Japan and key Indian Ocean routes such as the…

India’s drug regulator has intensified surveillance against the unauthorized sale and promotion of weight-loss drugs, amid growing concerns over misuse and the rapid influx of cheaper generic versions into the market. The move comes after several domestic pharmaceutical companies launched lower-cost alternatives to blockbuster weight-loss treatments, increasing availability but also raising regulatory challenges. Authorities said inspections have been carried out at 49 locations, including drug wholesalers, retailers and slimming clinics, as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal distribution and off-label use of these medicines. The drugs, originally developed for diabetes treatment, have seen a surge in demand for weight…

Veteran Hollywood actress Valerie Perrine, best known for her roles in Superman and the Oscar-nominated film Lenny, has died at the age of 82 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Her death was confirmed by close associates, who said she passed away on March 23 at her home in Beverly Hills following years of illness. Perrine rose to prominence in the 1970s and gained critical acclaim for her portrayal of Honey Bruce in Lenny, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. She later achieved widespread recognition for…

A Colombian military transport plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the country’s southern Amazon region, with dozens of people feared dead and many others injured, authorities said. The aircraft, identified as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, went down near the town of Puerto Leguízamo, close to Colombia’s borders with Peru and Ecuador. The plane was carrying more than 120 personnel, most of them military troops. Initial reports indicated heavy casualties, with officials warning that the death toll could be significant as rescue teams continue operations in the remote jungle area. Emergency crews and military personnel were deployed to the crash site,…

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as global markets weighed supply risks after Iran denied holding talks with the United States to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, contradicting earlier claims from Washington. Brent crude futures increased by $1.06, or 1.1%, to around $101 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed $1.58, or 1.8%, to $89.71 in early trade. The rebound follows a sharp drop of more than 10% in the previous session after US President Donald Trump said Washington had made progress in negotiations with Iran and delayed planned strikes. Tehran, however, rejected those claims, calling them misleading and denying…