Briefly

EUROPE

Eurozone inflation increases to 2.5%

Eurozone inflation leaped in March because of surging energy prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East, official data showed on Tuesday, hitting its highest level since January 2025. Overall inflation in the 21 countries sharing the euro currency jumped to 2.5 percent in March from 1.9 percent for February before the war started and blocked supplies of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. Energy prices increased 4.9 percent in March compared to a 3.1 percent decline in February, Eurostat figures showed. Oil prices have nearly doubled as a result of the Iran war and the European Central Bank is debating whether to raise interest rates to prevent this surge from becoming entrenched in the price of other goods and services.

MYANMAR

Lawmakers elect 3 vice-presidents

Myanmar moved one step closer to electing a president on Tuesday after representatives chose three vice-presidents. The country's lower house elected Min Aung Hlaing with a majority of the votes, while the upper house selected Nan Ni Ni Aye. Later in the day, a group of military representatives from both bodies picked U Nyo Saw, according to the Information Team of the National Defense and Security Council. Under the constitution, one of these three will eventually be chosen by the Union Parliament as the president.

INDONESIA

21 fishing crew saved after boat capsizes

All 21 crew members reported missing after their fishing vessel sank off the Indonesian coast were rescued on Tuesday, found packed into a rickety raft floating in the open water, an official said. The boat sank in bad weather on Monday, having left Taliabu island the day before, heading north to North Sulawesi. The Central Sulawesi search and rescue agency said the crew members were found on Tuesday morning nearly 50 kilometers from where their boat sank. The manifest had indicated 27 crew, but it turned out six had never made it on board, the agency said.

Agencies - Xinhua