International

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Proposal With US

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals aimed at easing tensions or securing a ceasefire with the United States, signalling that Tehran is preparing for a more confrontational phase of the conflict. The reported decision came through backchannel messages relayed by two intermediary countries and points to a firm Iranian position as […]

International

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Push With US

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals aimed at reducing tensions or securing a ceasefire with the United States, signalling that Tehran is preparing for a prolonged confrontation. The reported decision came through backchannel communication routed via two intermediary countries and points to a hardline Iranian position as the conflict with

International

UN Warns Civilians Paying Price In Lebanon

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

The United Nations has warned that civilians are bearing the brunt of the intensifying war in Lebanon, with deaths, injuries and mass displacement rising as fighting widens. The latest humanitarian assessment comes as Israeli military operations expand and international concern grows over the scale of civilian suffering across the country. UN Warns Of Rising Civilian […]

International

Iraq Reaches Iran Understanding On Hormuz

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

Iraq said it has reached an understanding with Iran to help its oil tankers move through the Strait of Hormuz, as Baghdad tries to protect crude exports during the ongoing regional conflict. The development is significant because Hormuz remains a critical route for Gulf energy shipments, and any negotiated passage is being closely watched by […]

National

Nanda Devi Arrives At Vadinar With LPG

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

India received another major LPG cargo on Tuesday as MT Nanda Devi reached Vadinar in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district after crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing West Asia tensions. The vessel arrived carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, with unloading set to proceed through a ship-to-ship transfer process at anchorage. MT Nanda Devi […]

International

Trump Warns Iran Must Not Get Nukes

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could destabilise the entire Middle East if it acquires nuclear weapons, linking the issue directly to Washington’s current military and diplomatic posture toward Tehran. His remarks came as the conflict involving Iran continued to widen, with growing concern over regional security, energy flows and the risk of […]

International

UAE Suspends Shah Gas Field Operations

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

Operations at the UAE’s Shah gas field have been suspended after a drone attack, adding to the growing pressure on Gulf energy infrastructure during the ongoing regional conflict. The disruption is significant because Shah is one of the UAE’s key gas production assets, and the latest incident has increased concerns about supply security, industrial continuity […]

International

Sri Lanka Declares Wednesdays Off For Fuel

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a public holiday as part of emergency fuel-saving measures, becoming one of several Asian countries responding to the impact of the West Asia conflict on energy supplies. The decision effectively creates a four-day workweek for many state institutions as Colombo tries to reduce fuel use and avoid deeper disruption […]

National

India Trade Deficit Narrows To $27 Billion

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $27.1 billion in February from January’s higher level, helped by a monthly decline in imports even as export growth remained weak. The latest trade data comes at a time when India is also facing fresh external pressures from disrupted shipping routes, higher energy costs and uncertainty in major export […]

National

Indian Crude Near $137 Amid Gulf Conflict

By BPN News Desk March 17, 2026

India’s crude oil basket has surged sharply since the Gulf conflict began, climbing to about $137 a barrel and sharply increasing pressure on refiners, import costs and the broader economy. The spike reflects tighter global supply, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and a rapid rise in freight and risk premiums linked to the ongoing […]