Author: EchoAsiaNews

Russia: Four logistics hubs operated by Russian online retailer Ozon were targeted in Ukrainian drone attacks in southern Russia on Monday, bringing the number of company facilities hit since August 22 to six, the company said. Ozon said its logistics hub in Makhachkala, Dagestan, caught fire following a drone attack, with several people reportedly injured. Workers were evacuated from warehouses in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk, while a separate facility in Enem also suffered a major fire. What Happened to Ozon’s Logistics Facilities? Ozon said operations were halted at the Makhachkala facility following the attack. The company reported that its facility in…

New Zealand: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s party will introduce a bill seeking to ban children under 16 from using social media, with platforms facing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for failing to comply. The proposed legislation would require social media companies to take reasonable measures to verify users’ ages, including through existing account information, facial recognition technology and digital identity documents. How Would New Zealand’s Proposed Social Media Ban Work? Under the bill, platforms would be responsible for preventing users under 16 from accessing their services. The government says the measure is aimed at protecting children…

Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir: Polling began Monday for eight reserved seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly, with voting underway at the Assembly building in Muzaffarabad as the region moves toward completing the composition of its legislature. Voting started at 10am and is scheduled to continue until 2pm. The AJK Election Commission secretary is serving as the presiding officer. The eight reserved seats comprise five for women, one for a technocrat, one for Ulema and Mashaikh, and one for an overseas Kashmiri representative. What Happens After Voting for Reserved Seats? After the reserved-seat election is completed, the newly elected members…

Damascus, Syria: Syria and Israel held US-mediated talks in Jordan on Sunday aimed at stopping Israeli strikes, arrests and targeted operations in Syrian territory, as Damascus demanded an Israeli withdrawal and the restoration of the 1974 disengagement agreement. The talks focused on establishing practical mechanisms to reduce military tensions and reviving negotiations on a security agreement that could eventually lead to a broader truce. Syria also raised concerns over tensions between Israel and Türkiye and their potential impact on Syrian territory. What Did Syria Demand in the Israel Talks? Syrian officials told the Israeli delegation that Damascus wants Israeli forces…

London: Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi were spotted holding hands after dinner at China Tang restaurant in London on August 20, adding to ongoing speculation about a relationship between the model and Australian actor. The pair were seen leaving the restaurant together, with Jenner wearing a fitted grey dress and black heels, while Elordi wore a pinstriped suit and black loafers. The outing came hours after Elordi attended the world premiere of his upcoming film The Dog Stars. What Has Fueled Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi Romance Rumours? The London appearance follows several recent outings involving Jenner and Elordi in…

Conakry, Guinea: At least 30 people were killed and six others seriously injured after a landfill collapsed onto nearby homes in the capital Conakry early Sunday following heavy rains, the government said. The disaster occurred around 2am local time in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood of the Bbessia district. Rescue teams, supported by excavators, were deployed to search the collapsed landfill for people who may still be trapped and to recover bodies. How Did the Landfill Collapse in Conakry? Authorities said heavy rainfall preceded the collapse, which sent a large mound of waste onto neighbouring homes. Rescue workers continued operations at the…

Mumbai: An Indian food safety commissioner has launched a sweeping crackdown on food businesses in Mumbai, conducting more than 3,000 inspections since taking charge in May and suspending licences at several outlets over alleged hygiene and food safety violations. Tukaram Mundhe, commissioner of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration, has targeted restaurants, hotels, cricket clubs, street vendors and grocery warehouses as part of the campaign, with authorities reporting findings including cockroaches, rats, poor hygiene and expired food. What Has the Mumbai Food Safety Crackdown Found? Mundhe’s teams have suspended the permits of four pizza outlets in recent weeks and taken action…

Rawalpindi: A local court has sent Hina Javed’s husband Faisal Asghar and domestic worker Zeeshan on three-day physical remand in connection with the murder of the 45-year-old woman, whose body was found at her apartment in Rawalpindi’s Lalkurti area. Police say a rope and wire allegedly linked to the killing have been recovered, while DNA samples from both suspects have been collected for forensic analysis. What Did Police Recover in the Hina Javed Murder Investigation? Police produced Asghar and Zeeshan before a magistrate and sought their physical remand to advance the investigation. The court approved the request and handed both…

Pakistan: Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to visit Tehran on Monday as tensions between Iran and the United States escalate over Washington’s planned sanctions and Tehran’s threat to disrupt Gulf oil exports. According to Reuters, the Chief of Defence Forces is expected to meet senior Iranian leaders to discuss regional security, recent developments in the conflict, US President Donald Trump’s sanctions warning, and Pakistan’s ongoing peace efforts. Pakistan has maintained direct communication with both sides and previously played a role in brokering a two-week ceasefire on April 8. Islamabad has also continued relaying messages between Washington and Tehran as…

United States: Some of Nvidia’s largest customers have been notified that prices for servers containing the company’s artificial intelligence chips will rise by more than 15% in many cases, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday. The reported increases are linked to rising memory chip costs and are expected to take effect for systems shipped early next year. The price hikes will affect systems using Nvidia’s Vera Rubin and Grace Blackwell chips, with the size of the increase depending on the chip generation and memory configuration, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the matter. Companies that build servers for…