powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea near Indonesia’s Ternate island at 06:48 AM local time on Thursday, April 2, 2026 (22:48 GMT on Wednesday, April 1, 2026), leaving at least one person dead and prompting widespread panic across the region. Authorities confirmed that a 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by falling debris, while another individual was injured after jumping from a building during the tremors. The earthquake, whic

Indian boxers Vishvanath Suresh and Sachin Siwach advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 after impressive performances on Day 3 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. In the men’s 50kg category, Vishvanath Suresh displayed excellent control and technique to register a dominant 5-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Bekzat Ergeshov. He will next face Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay, the reigning world champion, in a high-stakes quarterfinal bout. In the men’

As Ramadan comes to a close in 2026, Muslims across the globe eagerly await the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, marking the end of a month of fasting and spiritual reflection. The exact date of Eid, however, depends on the sighting of the crescent moon, making it a topic of great anticipation. Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the beginning of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, is celebrated based on lunar cycles. This means that the date of Eid can vary from country to country, depending on

The escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are raising serious concerns for global energy markets, with analysts warning that the liquefied natural gas sector could be more severely affected than crude oil if the shipping route remains disrupted. While oil shipments have been partially redirected through alternative pipelines, LNG faces unique challenges due to its dependence on specialized tankers and highly centralized production, particularly in Qatar. Roughly 20 percent o

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 climbed to another record high on Thursday, extending its streak of gains as investor enthusiasm around the so-called Takaichi trade continued to fuel buying in domestic equities. The index rose 1.1 percent to close at an all-time high of 59,199.31, marking its third consecutive session of record finishes. The broader Topix index also advanced 1.45 percent, reaching a fresh peak as market sentiment remained buoyant. The rally in Japan stocks has been c

A suicide bomber targeted a police checkpost in Pakistan’s Bhakkar district on Tuesday evening, killing four policemen and injuring several others in an attack that has heightened security concerns in the region. The explosion occurred around 7 pm near a bridge connecting Dera Ismail Khan with Punjab, according to local police officials. Initial reports had indicated that two police personnel were killed and four injured, but officials later confirmed that the death toll had risen

Asia-Pacific markets delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday as investors assessed renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump alongside growing concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the software and cybersecurity sectors. The cautious mood reflected broader uncertainty in global stocks, with market participants closely monitoring trade tensions and technology-driven disruption. The unease followed comments posted by Trump on Truth Social, wh

India is set to further restrict water flow to Pakistan ahead of the summer season with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage on the Ravi River by March 31, 2026. The move comes at a time when tensions between the two neighbours remain high and follows India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty after last year’s Pahalgam terror attack. With the new infrastructure in place, surplus water that previously flowed unused into Pakistan is now expected to be diverted for irrigatio

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended a warm invitation to Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral victory, signaling India’s intent to deepen engagement with Dhaka’s new leadership. In a congratulatory letter sent soon after the swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka, PM Modi expressed confidence that bilateral relations would grow stronger under Rahman’s leadership and emphasized the importance of shared dev

Pakistan has signaled a possible change in its stance regarding the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2026, but only if certain conditions are met. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board has conveyed three specific demands to the International Cricket Council, stating that it would consult the Pakistani government about reversing the boycott of the February 15 fixture only if the ICC agrees to these terms. The match is scheduled to be played at a neutra

Bangladesh’s political turmoil deepened further on Monday as a Dhaka court sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in two corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in government land allocations. The verdict, delivered by Dhaka’s Special Judge’s Court, marks another major legal setback for the former leader, who has been facing a barrage of cases since her removal from power in 2024. The cases revolve around the Rajuk New Town Project

China’s record-breaking trade surplus is increasingly reshaping global financial markets as export earnings that once accumulated primarily in state reserves are now being redirected into private investments overseas. The shift marks a notable departure from Beijing’s traditionally centralized management of foreign exchange inflows and introduces new dynamics into global capital movements at a time of heightened sensitivity over trade imbalances and financial stability. Last yea

Global K-pop sensation BTS has officially announced its highly anticipated return to live performances with a massive world tour scheduled across 2026 and 2027. This will be the group’s first major tour in several years, drawing excitement from fans worldwide and marking the largest tour of their career. The tour will include more than 70 stops across multiple continents, with Chicago confirmed as one of the major North American dates, highlighting the group’s enduring global appeal.

A 28-year-old Hindu auto-rickshaw driver was beaten to death in southeastern Bangladesh, marking the latest fatality in a continuing wave of violence targeting minority communities amid ongoing political unrest. The victim, identified as Samir Das, was attacked in the Daganbhuiyan area of Chittagong on the night of January 11, according to local reports. His death is the seventh reported killing of a Hindu individual since unrest intensified across the country in late December. The

Documents released under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act have shed new light on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during India’s Operation Sindoor in April last year, revealing an extensive and urgent campaign to seek Washington’s intervention as tensions escalated between the two South Asian neighbors. The filings indicate that Islamabad repeatedly appealed to US officials for assistance, offering a range of economic and strategic incentives in return for diplomatic engag

Former White House physician and retired US Navy doctor Ronny Jackson has emerged as a central figure in negotiations that led to a $500 million mining and rare earths agreement between American and Pakistani entities, according to recent disclosures filed with the US Department of Justice. The filings, submitted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, outline Jackson’s direct engagement with Pakistani officials and detail his involvement in shaping the deal at multiple stages.