Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) is being observed across Pakistan on Wednesday, August 26, with religious gatherings, processions, special prayers and Seerat-un-Nabi conferences held in cities across the country. The government has declared August 26 a public holiday on the occasion of 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1448 AH. The day began with a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals. Special prayers were offered after Fajr for peace, prosperity and unity among Muslims. Streets, roads, mosques, public buildings and homes have been decorated with green flags, buntings and lights. Milad processions are being organised by religious organisations, Milad committees…

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has paused or rescheduled visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide as the State Department conducts a global training initiative for consular officers. A State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the training programme, but did not provide details on its duration or the number of applicants affected. The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration continues its broader immigration crackdown, which has included increased scrutiny of visa and green card holders and restrictions affecting both legal and illegal immigration. Why Has the US Paused Visa Appointments? The…

Kendall Jenner has appeared to subtly acknowledge her reported relationship with actor Jacob Elordi after the pair were recently seen together in public. The 30-year-old model shared a photo of a book collection on social media that included a copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, prompting fans to connect the post to Elordi, 29, who has previously spoken about Whitman and described the poet as one of his favourites. Why Are Fans Linking Kendall Jenner’s Post to Jacob Elordi? Fans on social media interpreted Jenner’s choice of book as a possible reference to Elordi and described the post as…

United States: Former Duke basketball player Kyle Singler posted a series of videos on Instagram in which he accused his former coach, Mike Krzyzewski, of abandoning him and appealed to him for help. Singler, 38, shared the videos on Tuesday, August 25, appearing to address Krzyzewski directly while discussing his personal circumstances and experiences in Oklahoma. In one video, Singler alleged that Krzyzewski had “set me up” and said he had no power or home. He also claimed that he had contacted his former coach but that others had turned away from him. “I’ve reached out to the coach, and…

TEHRAN: Iran and Oman have reached agreements on their respective shares of the Strait of Hormuz and its revenues, while Tehran said negotiations had been delayed by US involvement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards spokesperson said on Wednesday, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency. The development comes as Iran and Oman negotiate an alternative transit arrangement through the strategic waterway, with Tehran maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed under its current conditions. What Did Iran and Oman Agree on Hormuz? Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the two countries had held talks for around 40 days and agreed on…

ISLAMABAD: An initial report prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has linked the deaths of 14 newborns in Wednesday’s fire to oxygen ignition, smoke exposure and severe burns. The fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Pims’ gynaecology ward, where 15 newborns were present. Only one infant was rescued, while 14 others died, according to hospital officials. What Caused the Pims Nursery Fire? According to the initial Pims report, a nebuliser indicating the quantity of oxygen alongside an incubator exploded inside the NICU. The oxygen subsequently caught fire, while smoke travelled through pipes…

Beijing: China is rapidly expanding the use of industrial robots in factories as the country seeks to increase productivity, address an ageing workforce and strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing. More than two million robots are already operating in Chinese factories, the largest industrial robot workforce in the world. China Expands Industrial Robot Production China is also becoming a major global producer of industrial robots, with more than half of the world’s industrial robots now manufactured in the country. Factories are increasingly using robots for welding, painting, lifting, assembly and other repetitive tasks. At a factory operated by CRP Technology…

Washington: Support among Americans for US military action against Iran has fallen to 31%, while President Donald Trump’s approval rating remained at 33%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday. Support for Iran War Falls Among Republicans The four-day poll, which concluded on Monday, found that support for US military action had declined from 37% in March and 34% earlier this month. Support among Republican respondents fell to 69%, compared with 77% in March. Trump’s 33% approval rating remained unchanged from the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey, leaving his rating at its lowest level recorded in the polling series during either of…

Washington, D.C.: NBC4 Washington anchor Joseph Olmo has announced his departure from local television news after nearly 10 years in broadcasting, telling viewers during a live broadcast that he would make his final appearance as a local news reporter on August 24. Olmo Announces Exit During Live Broadcast Olmo made the announcement at the beginning of NBC4’s Sunday evening broadcast on August 23, telling viewers he had “one more story” to share. He reflected on his career in local journalism and said his time as a reporter had been significant. Olmo has worked with NBC4 for more than seven years…

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran attempted to assassinate one of his sons, but provided no details about the alleged plot, including which son was targeted, when the incident occurred or how close it came to being carried out. Netanyahu Provides No Details on Alleged Plot Netanyahu made the allegation during a telephone interview with Israel’s Channel 14 on Monday while discussing security arrangements for political candidates ahead of Israel’s October 27 general election. He said the alleged Iranian threat demonstrated that security protection for political figures was necessary. Netanyahu’s elder son, Yair Netanyahu, lives in…