Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Computer Emergency Response Team (PK-CERT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with global cybersecurity company Kaspersky on Monday to strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s national cybersecurity framework, according to an official statement from the ministry of IT and telecommunications. &ldquo;The collaboration marks an important step toward safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s digital ecosystem and reinforcing trust in the country&rsquo;s ongoing digital transformation,&rdquo; the statement said. PK-CERT is a federal government entity responsible for protecting Pakistan&rsquo;s digital assets, sensitive information, and critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, cyberterrorism, and cyber espionage. According to the MoU, both organizations will collaborate on multiple areas of cybersecurity, including incident detection and response, prevention strategies, education, and research and development. The MoU also includes collaboration on the launch of &ldquo;cybersecurity training and awareness programmes&rdquo; and allows PK-CERT and Kaspersky to exchange information on cyber threats. Kaspersky also agreed to share its expertise with PK-CERT to &ldquo;counter cyber espionage, data leaks, attacks on critical infrastructure, and disinformation campaigns,&rdquo; the statement said. By combining expertise and resources, PK-CERT and Kaspersky aim to enhance Pakistan&rsquo;s cyber resilience, supporting a safer digital adoption for citizens, businesses, and government.

Economy

Pakistan’s PK-CERT signs MoU with global cybersecurity company Kaspersky to boost national cybersecurity, enhance cyber resilience, and counter threats through joint training, information sharing, and advanced incident response.

PK-CERT, Kaspersky partner to strengthen Pakistan’s cybersecurity framework

HOUSTON: Little-known lunar craters, a solar eclipse and meteor strikes: the Artemis II astronauts wrapped their lunar flyby and began their journey back to Earth late Monday, bringing with them rich celestial observations scientists hope will open doors. Their eyes glued to the spacecraft windows for nearly seven hours, the team of four who spent their day breaking records and making history were treated to a view of the Moon unlike any other.&nbsp;&lsquo;It is amazing&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;Humans probably have not evolved to see what we&#39;re seeing,&quot; said Victor Glover. &quot;It is truly hard to describe. It is amazing.&quot; The crew reported in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun. They also described flashes of light -- meteor strikes -- on the Moon&#39;s surface. &quot;I can&#39;t say enough how much science we&#39;ve already learned,&quot; Kelsey Young, lead scientist for the Artemis II mission, told the astronauts. &quot;You really brought the Moon closer for us today, and we cannot say thank you enough.&quot;&nbsp;Trump praises &#39;modern-day pioneers&#39;&nbsp;But even after becoming the furthest humans to ever travel from Earth, their day was not over: the bleary-eyed astronauts remained in good spirits as they took a late-night call from US President Donald Trump. Unlike the Artemis astronauts and NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, Trump at age 79 is old enough to remember the Apollo days. And he was, in a word, impressed. &quot;You&#39;ve really inspired the entire world,&quot; Trump said, calling them &quot;modern-day pioneers&quot; who have &quot;a lot of courage doing what you&#39;re doing.&quot; &quot;America will be second to none in space and everything we&#39;re doing, and we will continue to lead the whole thing into the stars, this incredible journey into the stars.&quot; He probed the astronauts about their favorite moments and asked what it was like to lose connection with Earth for some 40 minutes during an expected communications blackout. The call even had a little signal glitch of its own, with Trump waiting expectantly as the astronauts appeared not to hear him for a full minute. &quot;Might have gotten cut off,&quot; Trump said. &quot;It is a long distance, it&#39;s a long ways.&quot;&nbsp;Historic trip&nbsp;Monday&#39;s milestones were plentiful, including when the Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they were expected to surpass by 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reached the journey&#39;s anticipated furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers). Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the moment should &quot;challenge this generation and the next, to make sure this record is not long-lived.&quot; And as noted by Trump, the crew lost contact with planet Earth for about 40 minutes as their spacecraft passed behind Earth&#39;s satellite. The blackout period was expected but still notable: they were the first people in more than 50 years to lose contact with the rest of humanity. &quot;It is so great to hear from Earth again,&quot; said astronaut Christina Koch, as the crewmembers were once again able to speak with humans on their home planet.&quot;We will always choose Earth.&quot;&nbsp;Moon memorials&nbsp;The Orion capsule will now travel back to Earth in a so-called &quot;free-return trajectory,&quot; a trip home that will take about four days. Adding to the historic nature of the mission led by Reid Wiseman, the Artemis II crew includes several firsts. Glover will be the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch will be the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American. Monday&#39;s celestial workday included a poignant moment just after the crew broke the distance record, when they proposed designating two previously unnamed craters. The first they requested to name in honor of their spacecraft&#39;s nickname, &quot;Integrity.&quot; They offered a second name, &quot;Carroll,&quot; for another crater, which they asked be named after the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman, who died of cancer.&nbsp;&lsquo;Like to call it Carroll&rsquo;&quot;It&#39;s a bright spot on the Moon,&quot; said Hansen, his voice breaking with emotion. &quot;And we would like to call it Carroll.&quot; The astronauts embraced, and mission control in Houston held a moment of silence. &quot;Integrity and Carroll crater, loud and clear. Thank you,&quot; said Gibbons. NASA said they would formally submit the name proposals to the International Astronomical Union, the body charged with naming celestial bodies and surface features.

Artificial Intelligence

Their eyes glued to the spacecraft windows for nearly seven hours, the team of four who spent their day breaking records and making history were treated to a view of the Moon unlike any other.

After milestone-rich lunar flyby, astronauts start trip home

Web Desk/AFP

Americas

Middle East

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command says the US president's threats have failed to deter Iranian forces or impact the continuation of their offensive operations against the US and Israel.

Trump threatens to take out Iran 'in one night' as Hormuz deadline looms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt on Monday started a two-week-long bilateral counter-terrorism exercise conducted between their militaries, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.&nbsp; Joint Exercise Thunder-II, which commenced on April 6 at the Special Operations School in Cherat, Pakistan, is a bilateral counter-terrorism exercise where troops from Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Services Group of and Egypt&rsquo;s Special Forces participate. &ldquo;The Commandant Special Operations School, Cherat, graced the opening ceremony as Chief Guest,&rdquo; the press release issued by ISPR said. According to the press release, the exercise was aimed at enhancing professional skills through joint training, while further strengthening the longstanding military-to-military relations between the two friendly countries. &ldquo;Participating troops will benefit from the exchange of mutual experiences and expertise, particularly in the conduct of counter-terrorism operations,&rdquo; ISPR added.

Security

The exercise aims at enhancing professional skills through joint training, while further strengthening the longstanding military-to-military relations between the two friendly countries; troops from Pakistan’s Special Services Group of and Egypt’s Special Forces will participate in the bilateral exercise.

Pakistan, Egypt commence bilateral counter-terrorism Joint Exercise Thunder-II

GAZA CITY: A Gaza hospital said clashes and Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 people on Monday near a school sheltering displaced people in the center of the Palestinian territory. The incident is the latest to shake a fragile US-backed ceasefire that has been in place since October 10 and has largely halted the war between Israel and Hamas. &quot;At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of Al-Maghazi camp&quot; in the center of the territory, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital said in a statement. Gaza&#39;s civil defense agency confirmed the death toll. A Palestinian witness told AFP that the violence began with clashes between gunmen from an anti-Hamas militia, allegedly backed by Israel, and some residents in the school who were backed by Hamas fighters. The anti-Hamas gunmen had come to arrest some residents, the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. &quot;Clashes broke out when residents and Hamas members tried to confront the (anti-Hamas) militiamen,&quot; he said. &quot;Shortly after, Israeli forces bombed the area near the school and also opened heavy fire,&quot; he said. The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports. It remains unclear how many of the victims were killed by airstrikes and how many died in the clashes. Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating the truce. Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Gaza during the ceasefire, targeting what it says are Hamas fighters. Since the ceasefire began, at least 723 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza&#39;s health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures reliable. The Israeli military says it has lost five soldiers in Gaza during the same period.

Incident is the latest to shake a fragile US-backed ceasefire that has been in place since October 10 and has largely halted the war between Israel and Hamas; since the ceasefire began, at least 723 Palestinians have been killed.

Gaza hospital says clashes, Israeli strikes kill 10

HOUSTON: The four astronauts embarking on NASA&#39;s lunar flyby became on Monday the humans to travel furthest from our planet, as they get set to view areas of the Moon never before seen by the naked eye. The Artemis II team broke the previous record set by 1970&#39;s Apollo 13 mission, which they are expected to surpass by approximately 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reach this journey&#39;s furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers) -- later today. The astronauts are journeying around the Moon for a monumental flyby, in which they&#39;ll spend more than six hours analyzing and documenting lunar surface features. The NASA mission had swept earlier into the Moon&#39;s gravitational sphere of influence, meaning their spacecraft is in the natural satellite&#39;s neighborhood, with lunar gravity outmuscling Earth&#39;s pull. The Orion capsule is zipping around the Moon before U-turning and heading back to Earth in a so-called &quot;free-return trajectory,&quot; a return-trip that will take about four days. The astronauts began their landmark day with a message from the late Jim Lovell, who took part in the Apollo 8 and 13 missions and recorded the message shortly before his death. &quot;It&#39;s a historic day, and I know how busy you&#39;ll be, but don&#39;t forget to enjoy the view,&quot; the Artemis astronauts heard from Lovell. &quot;Welcome to my old neighborhood,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#39;m proud to pass that torch on to you as you swing around the Moon.&quot; Swooping around the far side of the Moon, the crew of four will witness previously hidden lunar territory -- the sphere looming large through their capsule windows. The Moon will appear to the astronauts &quot;about the size of a basketball held at arm&#39;s length,&quot; Noah Petro, head of the US space agency&#39;s planetary geology lab, told AFP. Adding to the historic nature of the mission led by Reid Wiseman, the Artemis II crew includes several firsts. Victor Glover will be the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Christina Koch will be the first woman, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen the first non-American. There will be a period of around 40 minutes during the flyby where all communication with Artemis II will be cut off as the astronauts pass behind the Moon. &quot;It&#39;ll be exciting, you know, in a slightly scary way, when they go behind the moon,&quot; Derek Buzasi, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago, told AFP. Human eye vs cameraThe astronauts have already started seeing features never previously glimpsed directly. An image sent back by the crew showed the Moon&#39;s Orientale basin visible, a massive crater that before had only been viewed by orbiting, uncrewed cameras. Near the end of their flyby, the astronauts will witness a solar eclipse, when the Sun will be behind the Moon. Despite the technological advancements since the Apollo era, NASA still relies on the eyesight of its astronauts to learn more about the Moon. &quot;The human eye is basically the best camera that could ever or will ever exist,&quot; Kelsey Young, the lead scientist for the Artemis II mission, told AFP. &quot;The number of receptors in the human eye far outweighs what a camera is able to do.&quot; And while the Orion crew will still be at a substantial distance from the Moon, their flyby is key to preparing for a later crewed mission to the planet&#39;s surface itself. &quot;We&#39;re going to learn an awful lot about the spacecraft,&quot; NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told CNN on Sunday. The information will be &quot;pretty paramount to set up for subsequent missions like Artemis III in 2027 and, of course, the lunar landing itself on Artemis IV in 2028,&quot; he added.

NASA’s Artemis II crew becomes the farthest-traveling humans from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13 as they conduct a historic flyby of the Moon and observe previously unseen lunar regions.

'Historic day': Artemis astronauts break space distance record

VIENNA:&nbsp;The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog on Monday warned that attacks near Iran&#39;s Bushehr atomic power plant &quot;pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop&quot;. The facility, located in the south of Iran and equipped with a 1,000-megawatt reactor, has been targeted four times since the US-Israeli war on Iran began. The latest strike was reported by Iranian state media on Saturday. Strikes near the operating plant &quot;could cause a severe radiological accident with harmful consequences for people and the environment in Iran and beyond,&quot; said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on X. Russia, whose specialists help operate the plant, said the strikes risked a &quot;radiological disaster more devastating than Chernobyl&quot;. &quot;We once again urgently call for an immediate cessation of hostilities,&quot; the Russian foreign ministry said. The IAEA analysed satellite imagery of the site, confirming the impact of the latest strike, which did not damage the power plant. Grossi added that one strike hit just 75 metres (246 feet) from the plant perimeter. &quot;A nuclear facility and surrounding areas should never be struck,&quot; he said. Bushehr, built with help from Russia, is Iran&#39;s only operational nuclear power reactor, according to the IAEA. Russian state media reported that 198 workers at the plant were evacuated just after the latest strike, with about 100 Russian staff remaining at the site.&nbsp;

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog warns that attacks near Iran's Bushehr atomic power plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop"

IAEA says strikes near Iran nuclear power plant 'must stop'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced on Monday that it would close bazaars, markets, and shopping malls at 8 p.m. as part of austerity measures amid the escalating Israel-US war on Iran, which has impacted global supplies. According to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review petroleum products, energy conservation, and the implementation of austerity measures. As part of this initiative, the government announced the closure of markets and shopping malls in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir. The statement added that the decision has been made in consultation with provincial governments. &ldquo;In divisional headquarters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bazaars, markets, and shopping malls will be allowed to remain open until 9 p.m.,&rdquo; it added. The government said that shops selling daily-use items, departmental stores, and all types of malls will also close at 8 p.m. Bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, and other food outlets will be closed by 10 p.m., the statement added. Marriage halls, marquees, and other commercial venues where weddings are held will remain closed after 10 p.m., as per the statement. Wedding events on private property and in homes will also be prohibited after 10 p.m., as per the statement. &nbsp;It added that medical stores and pharmacies will be exempt from these restrictions. The government announced that these decisions will take effect from April 7. It further added that in the cities of Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, intercity public transport will be free for one month, with all expenses borne by the federal government. Sufficient petrol suppliesIn an official statement, the Cabinet Committee to Monitor Petrol Prices met under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb to assess petroleum supply, stock positions, and market conditions. Officials told the meeting that overall supply remains stable. Diesel stocks cover about 25 days, petrol supplies are sufficient to meet current demand, and crude oil stocks stand at around 12 days, supported by incoming cargoes and scheduled imports, according to the Petroleum Division. Import arrangements for the coming weeks are on track through commercial purchases and government-to-government deals, while refineries are operating at optimal levels to maintain output, the division said. The committee noted that a reliable energy supply remains critical for agriculture, fertilizer production, transport, and industry, as well as for maintaining price stability. The committee called for vigilance to prevent hoarding, speculative activity, and disruptions in availability following recent price changes, the ministry stated. It stressed close monitoring of demand patterns, including local variations, and action against unauthorized storage and market irregularities within the regulatory framework. Members also reviewed the gas supply, including the stock positions of SNGPL and SSGC, and discussed the allocation between domestic consumers and the power sector, according to the Petroleum Division. They called for a data-driven approach to manage seasonal demand and increasing reliance on liquefied petroleum gas. The committee emphasized the use of a digital dashboard launched by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to track real-time data on stocks, sales, and supply conditions from depots to retail outlets. The system is intended to improve visibility of inventory and demand fluctuations and enable timely identification of supply gaps, the ministry said. However, data reporting from retail outlets remains below expectations despite a nationwide network of more than 12,000 petrol pumps, according to the Finance Ministry. The committee called for full operationalization of the system. The finance minister directed stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate data sharing to support decision-making. OGRA was instructed to enforce compliance with reporting requirements,&nbsp;accelerate digitization across the supply chain, and coordinate with oil marketing companies. Pakistan State Oil will expand reporting coverage across its retail network, the ministry said. Joint teams from the Petroleum Division, OGRA, the Federal Investigation Agency, and Pakistan State Oil will be deployed to selected PSO petrol pumps in Islamabad to improve data entry, transparency, and operational compliance. The committee said such mechanisms should be institutionalized to strengthen oversight and accountability. Aurangzeb said maintaining market stability requires coordination, monitoring, and enforcement, and stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability, improve transparency, and protect consumers. The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers and officials from relevant ministries, divisions, and regulatory authorities.

Steps include early market closures, reduced business hours, and offering free public transport to reduce vehicular traffic and fuel usage amid regional tensions.

Pakistan orders early market closures amid Middle Eastern crisis

TEHRAN: Israeli strikes hit Iran&#39;s largest petrochemical complex Monday, as the Islamic Republic defied threats from US President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A separate Israeli strike also killed a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, while Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israel, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Iran said &quot;much more devastating&quot; attacks would come if Trump followed through on his threat to hit civilian targets. The US leader had on Sunday threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran does not bow to his demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping by Tuesday 8:00 pm (0000 GMT Wednesday). Iran has all but blocked Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, sending oil and gas prices soaring and pushing countries around the world to enact measures to contain the fallout. In a stark, expletive-laden social media post on Sunday, Trump demanded: &quot;Open the Fuckin&#39; Strait, you crazy bastards, or you&#39;ll be living in Hell.&quot; On Monday, Israel said it had struck Iran&#39;s largest petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh on Iran&#39;s Gulf coast, where local media reported multiple explosions. The site accounted for about 50 percent of the country&#39;s petrochemical production worth &quot;tens of billions of dollars&quot;, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said. Ahead of the latest strikes, Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said Hormuz &quot;will never return to its former status, especially for the US and Israel&quot;. The Guards posted on Telegram Monday that their intelligence chief Majid Khademi had been killed at dawn in US-Israeli strikes. &quot;We will reach anyone who seeks to harm us,&quot; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, after Katz confirmed the country&#39;s military was behind the strike. Israel&#39;s defence ministry also said it would ramp up production of Arrow missile interceptors, part of the country&#39;s multi-layered air defences.<h2 style="line-height: 2;"> </h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">A deal?</h2>While the violence continued to spiral, reports surfaced of a potential push to halt the fighting. Citing US, Israeli and regional sources, US news website Axios said a deal mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey for a 45-day ceasefire to allow for negotiations on a more permanent peace was under discussion. Pakistan confirmed peace talks were underway but did not comment on the 45-day ceasefire report. Egypt&#39;s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had on Sunday confirmed he was engaging in talks with governments across the region, as well as US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. &quot;Views and proposals were exchanged on ways to deescalate the military situation in the region given the delicate juncture it is currently facing,&quot; a statement from his ministry said. Trump told Fox News that Iran was &quot;close&quot; to making a deal, but Tehran has repeatedly denied it is engaged in any negotiations with the US or Israel. European Council chief Antonio Costa, one of the EU&#39;s top officials, called in an X post for a &quot;diplomatic solution&quot;. &quot;Any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable,&quot; Costa said.&nbsp;

Asia

Israel strikes Iran’s largest petrochemical complex as tensions with Iran escalate over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides trading attacks and threats amid tentative ceasefire talks.

Israel hits Iran gas complex after Trump threat

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and the broader region, his office said on Monday.&nbsp;During the call, both leaders exchanged views on regional developments and underscored the urgent need for de-escalation to maintain <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/oil-pares-gains-as-shares-rise-in-tokyo-seoul" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">peace and stability</a>.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041096471551025460&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1743acbe62f2ae41abf8b0a5442e2aebc6f32721&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Motegi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role in facilitating diplomatic engagement and efforts toward regional stability.&nbsp;The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact and continue consultations on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

TEHRAN: A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026. (Photo: AFP/File)

Foreign Affairs

Both leaders exchange views on regional developments and underscore the urgent need for de-escalation to maintain peace and stability.

Pakistan FM discusses Middle East situation with Japanese counterpart

TOKYO: Oil prices pared gains Monday after a spike following fresh threats in the war in the Middle East, while Tokyo and Seoul shares closed higher. Many markets in Asia and Europe were closed for holidays on Easter Monday, which coincides with China&#39;s Qingming Festival. Crude oil contracts had surged at the week&#39;s market opening after US President Donald Trump made an expletive-laced threat to destroy Iran&#39;s civilian infrastructure, demanding Tehran bow to his demands for a deal to reopen the Gulf to shipping. But they fluctuated during the day, and by late afternoon US benchmark West Texas Intermediate had lost 0.7% at $110.75 a barrel, while North Sea Brent was up 0.2% to $109.20. Analysts said a report by Axios that said the United States and Iran were discussing terms with regional mediators for a potential 45-day ceasefire had calmed sentiment among investors. &quot;Markets are beginning to flirt with the idea of a peace dividend,&quot; wrote Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. However, it is &quot;a tentative recalibration, a market shading probabilities rather than rewriting the script&quot;, Innes added. Bloomberg Markets Live strategist Mark Cranfield said the reaction to the report &quot;shows how keen investors are to see a de-escalation in the Iran war, which is dominating a risk aversion theme across markets&quot;. &quot;Should President Trump push back against ceasefire hopes when he speaks later on Monday, this positive mood will reverse,&quot; he added. Tokyo closed 0.6%&nbsp;higher and Seoul ended the day with gains of 1.4%. Among other Asian markets open on Monday, Singapore was up 0.4% but Jakarta was down 0.5%. &quot;Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!&quot; Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Sunday, later telling Fox News there was a &quot;good chance&quot; Iran would agree to a deal. Hours later, Iran&#39;s central military command warned of &quot;much more devastating&quot; retaliation if its adversaries hit civilian targets. MUFG&#39;s Lloyd Chan said in a note that &quot;it remains to be seen whether this escalatory rhetoric ultimately proves to be another &#39;TACO&#39; moment&quot; a jokey acronym for &quot;Trump always chickens out&quot;. But &quot;the persistence of threats to critical Iranian infrastructure keeps escalation risks elevated&quot;, he said. The war, entering its sixth week since the US and Israel first attacked Iran on Feb. 28, has engulfed the Middle East in conflict and upended the global economy. Iran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world&#39;s oil and gas transits, sending petroleum prices skyrocketing. Key figures at around 0730 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6% at 53,413.68 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: CLOSED for holiday Shanghai - Composite: CLOSED for holiday Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1544 from $1.1535 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3229 from $1.3224 Dollar/yen: FLAT at 159.63 Euro/pound: UP at 87.27 pence from 87.22 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7% at $110.75 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2% at $109.20 per barrel New York - Dow: DOWN 0.1% at 46,504.67 (close) London - FTSE 100: CLOSED for holiday

A container ship is seen at berth at the container terminal of the port in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province on April 2, 2026.

Business

Oil prices eased after an early surge on Middle East tensions as tentative Iran ceasefire talks lifted investor sentiment, while Asian markets mostly rose in holiday-thinned trading.