Author: EchoAsiaNews

Karachi: Veteran Pakistani actress and producer Meera has claimed that her upcoming film Psycho is a world-class production capable of competing with both Bollywood and Hollywood cinema, expressing confidence that the movie will become a global blockbuster upon its release on Eid ul Adha 2026. Speaking during a promotional press conference in Karachi, Meera said the thriller-action film has the potential to earn more than Rs500 crore worldwide and set new popularity records for Pakistani cinema. The actress, who is also producing and starring in the film, described Psycho as more than just entertainment, calling it “a symbol of Pakistan’s…

Lahore: Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been invited to attend the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting and the final of the Indian Premier League 2026 in Ahmedabad later this month, sources told Geo News on Saturday. According to reports, the ICC is scheduled to hold a series of key meetings, including the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) session and the ICC Board meeting, where discussions regarding the future structure and format of the World Test Championship (WTC) are expected to resume. An international cricket news website reported that the CEC meeting will take place…

Washington: Rapidly rising diesel prices linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran are placing severe financial pressure on school districts across the United States, forcing education authorities to cut spending, dip into emergency reserves, and reconsider essential student services. School officials from states including Washington, Texas, Minnesota, and Alaska say soaring fuel costs are making it increasingly difficult to operate school buses, maintain transport networks, and even keep classrooms heated and powered. The crisis follows major disruptions in global oil supplies caused by the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has affected nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil flow and…

Britain’s former health minister Wes Streeting until he quit his post earlier this week, has become the first MP to confirm publicly he will bid to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer as leader of the ruling Labour Party. Widely credited as one of the party’s best communicators, the ebullient 43-year-old hails from a working-class background and the right flank of the centre-left party. A fixture on the airwaves during the 2024 general election, his profile has grown further helming the government department responsible for the cherished but beleaguered National Health Service (NHS) in England. Rumours have swirled for months he…

Bangkok: At least eight people were killed and 32 others injured on Saturday after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok, triggering a massive fire that engulfed the vehicle and nearby traffic, Thai officials said. The deadly crash occurred near the Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan station when a container freight train struck the bus as it remained trapped on the railway tracks. According to Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat, preliminary investigations showed the bus had stopped on the tracks at a red traffic signal, preventing railway crossing barriers from closing properly. “The…

Tehran: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday on a two-day official visit aimed at facilitating stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States, according to Iranian media reports. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni received Naqvi upon his arrival. Iranian news agency Tasnim said the visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and revive negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The visit comes days after Asim Munir travelled to Tehran as part of Islamabad’s mediation initiative regarding tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel. In April, Field Marshal Munir led a Pakistani…

United Kingdom: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an incident involving a vessel approximately 38 nautical miles (70 km) northeast of Fujairah, near the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters. UKMTO said it received information that the ship was boarded by unauthorised personnel while at anchor. The vessel is now reportedly being directed toward Iranian territorial waters. No further details were immediately available regarding the identity of the vessel, the status of the crew, or the actors involved in the incident. Maritime authorities continue to monitor the situation amid rising tensions in regional shipping lanes. The report…

India: India has requested the United States to extend its waiver permitting imports of Russian oil, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The move comes as ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf continues to disrupt global energy supply chains. According to the report, the waiver allows Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian crude despite broader Western sanctions, and is set to expire in the coming days. Indian officials are seeking an extension to ensure stable energy flows and avoid supply shocks amid heightened regional instability. The report, attributed to Bloomberg and carried by Reuters, noted that the…

Iran has called on member states of the BRICS grouping to adopt a unified position against what it described as violations of international law by the United States and Israel, according to a statement attributed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on his Telegram channel. Araghchi urged BRICS nations to formally condemn these actions and to push back against what he termed the politicisation of international institutions. He further stated that the so-called “West’s false sense of superiority and immunity” should be collectively challenged by emerging economies and global South powers. The BRICS grouping currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China,…

United States: Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS is facing legal action in the United States after a former employee filed a lawsuit alleging wage and labour violations during his employment in California. According to reports, former employee David Knight has filed a case claiming that SKIMS failed to properly compensate workers between October and December 2025, including allegations related to unpaid overtime and labour rights violations. The lawsuit states that employees were allegedly required to work more than eight hours per day and over 40 hours per week but were not paid overtime wages as required under California labour law.…