Author: EchoAsiaNews

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed during a White House meeting that the United States should intensify pressure on Iran’s oil exports to China, U.S. officials told the news site Axios. The two leaders committed to pursuing a “maximum pressure” strategy aimed at curbing Iran’s oil sales, particularly because China accounts for more than 80% of Iran’s crude exports—a major source of revenue for Tehran’s government. Reducing that trade, the officials said, could significantly cut Iran’s oil revenue and tighten economic pressure on the Islamic Republic. The Axios report, cited by Reuters, comes amid continuing diplomatic…

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, said Canada now wants a change of government in Iran and will not restore diplomatic relations with Tehran unless that happens. Anand made the remarks on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, where she also announced new sanctions targeting seven individuals linked to the Iranian government in response to ongoing human rights abuses. Ottawa has maintained largely hostile relations with Iran for years and severed diplomatic ties in 2012; the latest sanctions are part of a broader effort to pressure the Iranian leadership over repression and other concerns. Anand did not…

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Pakistan, held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on global and regional security issues during a meeting in Munich, Germany, on February 14, 2026. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, where world leaders, defence officials and policymakers gathered to deliberate on pressing international security challenges. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the discussions focused on evolving security dynamics and counterterrorism cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. Field Marshal Munir was…

An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a United States federal court to participating in a 2023 plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York City, federal prosecutors said on Friday. The defendant, 54-year-old Nikhil Gupta, admitted in the Southern District of New York to several charges including murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and money laundering. Prosecutors said Gupta conspired to hire a hitman to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American Sikh activist and lawyer who leads the U.S. branch of the Sikhs for Justice group and advocates for an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan. According…

The federal government of Pakistan on Saturday announced a Rs38 billion relief package ahead of Ramadan, aimed at providing essential support to around 12 million deserving families across the country, officials said. The package, approved by the federal cabinet, is designed to lower the cost of essential goods during the holy month and help ease inflationary pressures on low-income households, particularly those affected by rising prices of food and basic commodities. According to the Finance Ministry, the Ramadan package includes targeted subsidies and cash-assistance measures to ensure that beneficiaries have access to staple items such as flour, sugar, ghee, pulses…

The government of Pakistan has said that eye specialists will conduct further medical check-ups and treatment for jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a specialised medical facility, amid rising concerns over his deteriorating vision. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on social media platform X that detailed medical examinations by expert ophthalmologists will take place and a full report will be submitted to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He urged the public and political groups to avoid conjecture and political rhetoric around the matter. The announcement comes as opposition lawmakers from the alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aiyeen Pakistan (TTAP) continued a sit-in…

World leaders from across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond met in Munich, Germany, on Saturday for the second day of the 62nd Munich Security Conference, one of the year’s most significant global security forums. The three-day event brings together senior statesmen, defence ministers and policy experts to address urgent geopolitical challenges including the war in Ukraine, transatlantic relations, Middle East tensions and the future of global security cooperation. The conference, held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, has drawn more than 60 heads of state and government, 50 senior officials from international organisations, and representatives from over 115 countries. On…

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi, the country’s top diplomat, on Saturday warned against what he described as “knee-jerk” calls to sever economic and supply-chain ties between China and the United States, urging a more “positive and pragmatic” approach to bilateral relations. Speaking at the 2026 Munich Security Conference in Germany, Wang said cooperation, rather than abrupt disengagement, would produce the best outcome for both nations and the wider global economy. He acknowledged recent encouraging signals from the White House but said some voices in the U.S. were undermining efforts to stabilise the relationship. Wang met U.S. Secretary of State Marco…

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 captain Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that he expects Sunday’s highly anticipated match against arch-rivals India to be played in the “right spirit,” but he remained uncertain about whether the customary pre-match and post-match handshakes will take place. Addressing reporters in Colombo, Agha acknowledged the political tensions surrounding the clash and the added pressure of captaining in one of cricket’s most watched fixtures. The two sides have not played each other since the tense Asia Cup 2025 final, where India refused handshakes before and after matches, drawing criticism from players and fans alike. “I…

The government is expected to increase petrol and diesel prices for the upcoming fortnight, sources in the Finance Division have told Geo News, indicating another round of fuel price adjustments as part of ongoing economic measures. According to the officials, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has submitted its recommendations for revised ex-depot prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) after a review of global oil market trends and currency exchange fluctuations. The Finance Division is reviewing these recommendations ahead of a final decision. If approved, the price of petrol and diesel will be raised for the period of…