Author: EchoAsiaNews

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced the cancellation of all her Basant-related activities scheduled for Saturday following the deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that claimed at least 31 lives. In a post on X, the chief minister said that the mega Basant show planned at Liberty Square had been called off in solidarity with the victims of the blast at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area. She stressed the need for national unity against terrorism, stating that the country must remain united against extremist elements and their supporters, show them no mercy, and stand firmly with the armed…

A powerful suicide bombing struck the Khadijatul Kubra Mosque, also known as Imambargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra, in the Tarlai Kalan and Shehzad Town area of Islamabad on Friday, killing at least 31 people and injuring 169 others, officials said. The attack occurred during Friday prayers when hundreds of worshippers were gathered inside and around the mosque. According to police and district administration officials, the attacker detonated explosives near the main entrance shortly after being stopped by security personnel. The blast caused extensive damage to the building, shattered windows, and sent debris across the prayer hall, triggering panic and chaos among worshippers.…

Freshly released documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein have revealed new details about his relationships with influential figures and the internal operations of his properties, according to a recent report by The Guardian. The records are part of a large batch of files made public under U.S. transparency laws and include emails, internal manuals, and correspondence collected during investigations into Epstein’s activities. Authorities say the release is intended to increase public accountability while protecting victims’ identities. The documents highlight Epstein’s communication with several prominent individuals across politics, business, and entertainment. Among those referenced is filmmaker Woody Allen, whose name appears in…

According to AP News, Israeli airstrikes struck multiple areas across Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including two infants, according to local health officials, as a fragile ceasefire continued to come under strain. Israel said the attacks targeted militant leaders and were carried out in response to a Hamas assault that seriously wounded one of its soldiers. Hospital officials said the dead included at least five children, seven women, and an on-duty paramedic. The renewed violence has raised fears that the truce, which began in October, is steadily unraveling. “Where is the ceasefire? Where are the mediators?” said…

Pakistan will host Indus AI Week 2026 from February 9 to 15, a flagship national event aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) awareness, adoption, and innovation across the country. The week-long initiative is being organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and will bring together policymakers, technology companies, universities, startups, and investors to promote AI-driven solutions and strengthen digital collaboration. Officials said the event will feature AI exhibitions, innovation forums, skills development sessions, and startup showcases, focusing on emerging technologies such as machine learning, data analytics, automation, and smart governance. The initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy…

Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reiterated that “terrorists and their facilitators will not be spared” as security forces continue counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan following deadly coordinated militant attacks last week, the military’s media wing said. Munir made the remarks during a visit to Quetta where he received a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation and ongoing operations against insurgents responsible for multiple strikes across the province. He also visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) to inquire about the health of wounded army, paramilitary Frontier Corps and police personnel. “The COAS & CDF remarked…

Pakistan has stepped up efforts to position its deep-sea ports at Gwadar and Karachi as key gateways for Central Asian trade, holding high-level consultations with China and advancing bilateral cooperation with Kazakhstan aimed at enhancing regional transport and transit links. In Islamabad on Wednesday, Pakistani officials and Chinese representatives reviewed the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA), a transit-trade pact originally signed in 1995 by Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan that facilitates overland trade via China to Pakistan’s ports. Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, said the meeting focused on strengthening QTTA’s role in channeling cargo between Central Asia…

According to Reuters, Asian stock markets traded cautiously on Wednesday, following sharp losses in U.S. and European equities amid growing concerns that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could disrupt traditional software and services industries. Investors remained wary after heavy selling in data analytics, professional services, and software firms in Western markets. The decline intensified after Anthropic launched new plug-ins for its Claude Cowork agent last week, raising fears of widespread AI-driven disruption. However, selling pressure in Asia was relatively limited, as the region remains heavily focused on hardware manufacturing. MSCI’s broad Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan slipped 0.2%, while Japan’s Nikkei…

According to Reuters, the U.S. military on Tuesday shot down an Iranian drone that “aggressively” approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, raising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The incident occurred at a time when diplomats were attempting to arrange nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States. Meanwhile, Donald Trump warned that “bad things” could happen if no agreement is reached, as U.S. warships move closer to Iran. Following the report of the drone shootdown, oil futures rose by more than $1 per barrel. The U.S. military said the Iranian Shahed-139 drone was flying toward the…

Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, the 53-year-old son of Libya’s late ruler Muammar Gaddafi, was killed on Tuesday in his hometown of Zintan in western Libya, according to multiple family sources, his lawyers and local media reports. Saif’s death was confirmed by his French lawyer, Marcel Ceccaldi, who told AFP that a group of armed men stormed his residence. Initial reports indicate that four masked gunmen entered the property and shot him, though no group has yet claimed responsibility and the identity of the attackers remains unknown. Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, a political adviser to Saif al-Islam, also confirmed his death, ending years…