Author: EchoAsiaNews

The United States has paid approximately $160 million towards the nearly $4 billion it owes in unpaid dues to the United Nations, the world body said on Thursday, even as Washington’s broader relationship with the organization remains strained. According to a United Nations spokesperson, the payment was made last week and allocated to the UN’s regular operating budget. The United States still owes more than $2.1 billion to that budget, including amounts due for the current year, and roughly $1.8 billion for UN peacekeeping operations, the UN said. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the organisation could face a…

The Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) has announced a gas and condensate discovery at its Dars West-3 well in Tando Allah Yar district of Sindh, according to a report published in Dawn. The state-owned exploration and production company said during testing the well flowed at a rate of 9.70 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of gas along with 580 barrels per day of condensate at a choke size of 36/64 inches. According to Dawn, pipeline laying work is currently under way to connect the well to the KPD-TAY processing plant. Once completed, the produced gas will…

Tesla Inc has lowered the price of its high-performance Cybertruck, Cyberbeast variant in the United States, according to pricing data on the electric-vehicle maker’s website. The Cyberbeast, a top-tier version of Tesla’s futuristic pickup truck, is now listed at $99,990, down from $114,990, marking a $15,000 reduction. The updated pricing was in effect on Tesla’s official site as of Friday. The price cut comes as Tesla continues efforts to boost demand for the much-anticipated Cybertruck, which has faced slower than expected sales and production challenges since its launch. The Cyberbeast variant features a more powerful tri-motor setup and enhanced performance…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday launched the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), a rare political gathering held every five years that is expected to set major policy goals on the economy, defence and diplomacy. State media reported the congress began on Thursday with a formal opening ceremony in Pyongyang, drawing thousands of delegates to discuss the country’s direction over the next half-decade. In his opening speech, Kim emphasised the need to boost economic activity and improve people’s livelihoods, signalling a priority on domestic development amid longstanding economic challenges. He made no explicit reference…

British police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in connection with allegations tied to his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, authorities and media reported on Thursday. Officers from Thames Valley Police detained the 66-year-old at his home, Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in eastern England, on Thursday morning, his birthday, as part of an ongoing investigation into whether he passed confidential government documents to Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. Unmarked police vehicles and plain-clothes officers were seen at the property, and…

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with members of the national men’s hockey team on Thursday and pledged full support after the team’s recent complaints about mistreatment during the Pro Hockey League tour. Naqvi expressed regret over the unpleasant incidents reported by players and assured them of institutional backing as the team prepares for the World Cup Qualifier in Egypt. “We will accommodate hockey players in every possible way. We will extend complete cooperation to streamline hockey affairs,” Naqvi said during the meeting. The PCB chairman instructed officials to immediately arrange air tickets, playing kits, and hotel accommodation…

Pakistan was not included among the five countries announced to have committed troops for the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, officials confirmed following a high-level meeting in Washington. The announcement was made during the inaugural session of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump. The initiative aims to coordinate post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. According to officials present at the meeting, five countries, Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, have agreed to contribute troops to the force. The proposed ISF is expected to focus initially on securing reconstruction zones and supporting governance arrangements…

United Nations aid convoys have reached the Dilling and Kadugli areas in central Sudan’s Kordofan region, which have been largely cut off from humanitarian assistance for over two years, the UN said Wednesday. The delivery comes amid escalating drone attacks and heavy fighting that have worsened the hunger crisis in the region. The World Food Program (WFP) transported more than 700 metric tons of food, providing life-saving supplies for nearly 70,000 people, including 21,000 mothers and children with specialized nutrition to prevent malnutrition. UN officials described the regions as having severe shortages of humanitarian aid due to prolonged conflict. The…

Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways has signed a $22.5 billion agreement with Boeing Co. to purchase 40 Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline said on Thursday. The deal marks one of the largest wide‑body jet orders in Vietnamese aviation history and underscores the carrier’s ambitions to expand into intercontinental markets, including future routes between Vietnam and the United States. The aircraft, featuring long‑range capabilities and advanced fuel efficiency, are intended to form the backbone of the airline’s wide‑body fleet, enabling non‑stop long‑haul flights to destinations across Asia, Europe and North America once deliveries begin. Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a newly established carrier based…

At least 16 people have been killed and more than a dozen others injured after a gas explosion tore through a three‑storey residential building in the Soldier Bazaar No 3 area of Karachi early Thursday, officials and rescue sources said. The blast occurred on the first floor of the building in Gul Rana Colony at around 4:15 a.m. local time, when residents were preparing for the pre‑dawn meal ahead of Ramadan, police and rescue authorities told reporters. Emergency teams, including Rescue 1122 Urban Search and Rescue units, Fire and Rescue crews, ambulances and disaster response vehicles rushed to the scene following distress calls.…