United News of Bangladesh

Taiwan’s president has postponed a planned visit to Africa after three countries withdrew permission for his aircraft to use their airspace following reported pressure from China, his office said Tuesday. President Lai Ching-te was scheduled to travel to Eswatini, Taiwan’s only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, from April 22 to 26. However, authorities in Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar cancelled the overflight permits along his route at short notice. A presidential spokesperson in Taipei said the decision came after “strong pressure” from Beijing, including alleged economic coercion. He accused China of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and undermining regional stability. China, which considers Taiwan its territory, responded by welcoming the move, saying it supports the “one-China principle” and is consistent with international law. Beijing regularly urges countries with which it has diplomatic ties to avoid official relations with Taipei. In recent years, it has stepped up efforts to reduce Taiwan’s remaining allies through aid and investment offers. Taiwan now has formal diplomatic relations with only 12 countries, mostly small nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Eswatini, however, said it regretted that President Lai could not make the visit but stressed that its ties with Taiwan remain unchanged. The governments of Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar did not immediately comment on the issue. China’s diplomatic push has already led several countries, including Honduras, Nicaragua and Nauru, to switch recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in recent years. The last Taiwanese presidential visit to Eswatini took place in 2023.

The White House has confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for peace negotiations has been cancelled. Vance had been scheduled to travel to Islamabad for a second time this month, with his arrival expected on Wednesday, as part of efforts to finalise a deal with Iranian officials. "Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," an administration official said. The decision follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that he agreed to extend the U.S.-Iran ceasefire indefinitely. #From BBC

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while waiting for a “unified proposal” from Tehran, even as U.S. forces continue blocking Iranian ports. The announcement came as uncertainty deepened ahead of the truce’s scheduled expiry on Wednesday. Washington and Tehran have both indicated they could return to fighting if no agreement is reached. The White House has also postponed Vice President JD Vance’s planned visit to Pakistan for a second round of talks, after Iran signaled reluctance to engage further for now. Trump said the ceasefire would remain in place “until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other.” Earlier, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tehran has yet to decide whether to join negotiations in Pakistan and would only participate if it sees a realistic chance of progress. Since the conflict began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon. Death tolls also include 23 in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab states, along with 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members across the region. Later Tuesday, Trump struck a combative tone in a post on his Truth Social platform after extending the ceasefire without a clear timeline for talks. He argued that Iran wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to export oil, warning that allowing this without a deal would undermine any future agreement. It remains unclear when or how negotiations in Islamabad might resume.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Iran has been “trapped by false promises,” while commenting on ongoing US-Iran negotiations, according to Russia’s TASS news agency. Lavrov said Moscow views the US-Iran talks as involving “threats and pledges” rather than concrete facts. “We also see Iran’s position, which quite rightly argues that they have already found themselves trapped by false promises, including that very Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal signed under former US President Barack Obama that limited Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. US ready for war again if Iran deal fails, Trump warns The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow is analysing developments surrounding possible new talks in Pakistan, noting that “the situation can make an about-face 10 times within 24 hours.” “If the current efforts of the Iranian and American negotiators, which we support, result in something like the 2015 agreement, I think it would be a great success,” Lavrov added. Source- Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump has said he is “ready to go” back to war with Iran if no agreement is reached by the end of the ceasefire scheduled for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s information minister said Iran’s response on whether it will send a delegation to meet US officials is still awaited, as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israel conflict with Iran remain uncertain. Earlier, Tehran said it would not enter negotiations under the “shadow of threats” or under a US naval blockade. Vance to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for Iran talks Source: Al Jazeera

European Union countries have agreed to broaden sanctions against Iran to target those responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. She said the decision was taken during a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Luxembourg. Kallas also said she had asked ministers to strengthen the EU’s naval mission in the Middle East, which is currently protecting commercial vessels from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group in the Red Sea.  #From Al Jazeera

Pakistan has not yet received formal confirmation from Iran regarding its participation in upcoming peace talks in Islamabad, the country’s information and broadcasting minister said. Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan, acting as a mediator, remains engaged with Iranian authorities and continues diplomatic efforts to ensure their participation. “Pakistan, as the mediator, is "in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue", he said, adding that a decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire "is critical". He further said, "Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue," according to a statement posted on X. #From BBC

Japan on Tuesday removed its long-standing ban on exporting lethal weapons, marking a significant shift from its post-World War II pacifist stance as it looks to strengthen its defense industry amid rising concerns over China and North Korea. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved new guidelines that pave the way for a wider range of arms exports, including domestically developed warships, combat drones and other military equipment. The move has been welcomed by key defense partners such as Australia and has drawn interest from countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. US Ambassador to Japan George Glass described it as a “historic step” that would strengthen defense cooperation between allies. However, China strongly criticized the decision, warning that the international community would oppose what it called Japan’s shift toward militarism. Critics within Japan also argue the move goes against the country’s pacifist constitution and could raise global tensions. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the new policy aims to enhance Japan’s security and contribute to regional and global stability as the security environment evolves. He added that the government will promote defense equipment transfers strategically to strengthen the country’s industrial base. Japan has traditionally restricted arms exports under its pacifist constitution, though recent changes allowed limited exports for non-combat purposes such as rescue, transport and surveillance. The new rules remove those restrictions, allowing exports of items like fighter jets, missiles and destroyers. Initially, such exports will be limited to 17 countries that have defense equipment and technology agreements with Japan. Each deal will require approval from the National Security Council, with strict monitoring of how the equipment is used. Officials said Japan will maintain strict controls and will not supply lethal weapons to countries engaged in active conflict, though exceptions could be considered. Japan began easing its export rules in 2014 by allowing non-lethal military supplies. In 2023, it further relaxed restrictions to permit exports of certain licensed weapons, enabling it to supply US-designed Patriot missiles to the United States. The revised policy also supports joint development projects, including a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy, and a major naval deal with Australia. Under that agreement, Japan will supply advanced frigates and collaborate on building additional vessels. Japan is also working to expand its domestic defense industry, which has struggled in the past due to limited demand. With growing security concerns involving China, North Korea and Russia, the government is encouraging investment in defense production, including drones and dual-use technologies. Officials say the new export framework will help deepen defense cooperation with partners and strengthen regional deterrence. Takaichi emphasized that Japan remains committed to its pacifist principles while adapting to new security challenges. Several countries, including New Zealand and the Philippines, have already shown interest in Japanese defense equipment. Meanwhile, NATO representatives recently visited Japan to explore closer cooperation in defense and technology.

Oil prices edged lower and global equities mostly advanced on Tuesday across Europe and Asia, as uncertainty persisted over potential US-Iran negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. Brent crude fell 0.7% to $94.81 per barrel, while US benchmark crude declined 0.9% to $86.63. The الحرب has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route, driving prices significantly higher in recent weeks. US President Donald Trump has called for the waterway to reopen fully to international shipping and has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. He also said Vice President JD Vance would travel to Islamabad for possible talks with Iran. However, Tehran has not confirmed participation, particularly following the recent seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel by the US Navy. In European trading, Germany’s DAX gained 0.6% to 24,558.9, while France’s CAC 40 remained nearly unchanged at 8,333.05. Britain’s FTSE 100 inched up 0.1% to 10,620.92. US futures for both the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose slightly, each adding just over 0.1%. Asian markets also showed strength. Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.9%, supported by technology stocks such as Tokyo Electron, which rose 3.5%. SoftBank Group surged 8.5% on continued optimism around artificial intelligence-driven gains. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.7%, while Taiwan’s Taiex advanced 1.8%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.5%, and China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.1%. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, slipping marginally. Oil prices had risen earlier amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, though recent gains have been less sharp compared to earlier in the conflict. US stocks, meanwhile, pulled back slightly from record highs. On Monday, the S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Dow slipped marginally, and the Nasdaq declined 0.3%. Investor sentiment remains cautious due to concerns that continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could impact global oil supply. Attention is now focused on the looming ceasefire deadline between the US and Iran, set to expire late Tuesday US time. Analysts say the situation remains delicately balanced, with hopes that renewed talks could lead to a breakthrough agreement to end the conflict. Despite recent volatility, oil prices remain below their peak levels seen earlier in the war, and US equities continue to trade above pre-conflict levels. Strong corporate earnings and resilient consumer spending have helped support the US economy, with most companies reporting better-than-expected profits for the first quarter of 2026. Key earnings reports expected this week include UnitedHealth Group, Tesla and Procter & Gamble. In currency markets, the US dollar strengthened to 159.21 Japanese yen, while the euro weakened slightly to $1.1767.

Pakistan continued preparations on Tuesday for a second round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad, despite uncertainty over whether Tehran would participate, as a fragile ceasefire remained at risk. Rhetoric from both sides stayed tense. US President Donald Trump warned of heavy military escalation if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline, which he set for Wednesday. Meanwhile, Iran’s chief negotiator said Tehran has “new cards” yet to be revealed. The two-week ceasefire, which began on April 8, is likely to be extended if negotiations proceed. US officials have indicated Vice President JD Vance would head the American delegation, but Iran has not confirmed its participation. Iranian state television reported that no delegation had yet arrived in Islamabad. The broadcast, often reflecting hard-line views within Iran, highlighted internal debate over how to respond to the recent US seizure of an Iranian container ship. Control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the dispute. The US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran, while Iran’s grip on the strategic waterway has driven global oil prices higher, with Brent crude nearing $95 per barrel. Before the conflict, the strait was open to international shipping, and Washington is pushing for unrestricted passage to resume. European officials, meeting in Brussels, are also assessing the impact on energy supplies after warnings of limited jet fuel reserves. Although Iran acknowledged receiving new proposals from Washington, significant differences persist, particularly over its nuclear programme, regional influence and control of the strait. Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf accused the US of seeking Iran’s surrender, saying Tehran would not negotiate under threats. Despite tensions, Pakistani officials remain optimistic that Iran will send representatives, allowing talks to proceed. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has been engaged in diplomatic efforts, including discussions with Egypt and China, both key regional players. China described the situation as a critical transition between war and peace and urged all sides to remain committed to dialogue. Security has been tightened in Islamabad, with increased deployments and patrols, suggesting preparations for possible high-level visits if progress is made. Analysts say Pakistan appears ready to host senior leaders from both countries should negotiations advance toward an agreement. Separately, diplomatic efforts are also underway elsewhere in the region. Talks between Israel and Lebanon are expected to resume in Washington, following rare direct contacts aimed at easing tensions and potentially reaching a peace deal. The broader conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties across the region, underscoring the urgency of renewed diplomatic efforts.