Author: EchoAsiaNews

The search for Nancy Guthrie, 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has entered its 10th day, amid new developments involving cryptocurrency activity tied to alleged ransom demands. Following Nancy’s disappearance, multiple U.S. media outlets, including TMZ and KGUN 9, received ransom notes demanding $4 million in Bitcoin by February 5, increasing to $6 million if unpaid by February 9. Savannah Guthrie attempted to reach the alleged kidnapper via social media, offering to pay the ransom. Both deadlines have now passed without confirmed payment or contact from the kidnappers. On February 10, 2026, TMZ reported suspicious activity in the…

Bangladesh is set to hold its 13th general election on Thursday, the first since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s long tenure and forced her into exile. Nearly 127 million citizens are eligible to vote, with security reinforced by more than 157,000 police officers, 100,000 soldiers, and additional personnel across the country. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is currently leading in the polls. Their main challengers are an 11-party coalition dominated by Jamaat-e-Islami, which has regained influence since Hasina’s departure, and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP),…

Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index opened higher on Wednesday, trading up 1,237 points in early intraday activity to 184,627 at 11:20am, following Tuesday’s close of 183,390.66. This represents a 0.68% increase, supported by steady market participation. Trading volumes reached 144.5 million shares with a total value of PKR 9.56 billion, indicating healthy investor engagement in the market. Among the most active stocks, K-Electric Ltd led with 53.3 million shares traded, rising 1.97% to Rs 8.80. Cnergyico PK Ltd followed with 50.2 million shares, gaining 0.14% to Rs 8.39, while Pak Qatar General Takaful Ltd climbed sharply 8.9% to Rs 16.77 on a volume of…

On Tuesday, Chile unveiled Latam-GPT, an open-source artificial intelligence model designed specifically for Latin America, aiming to address biases often found in US-centric AI systems. Developed by the Chilean National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (Cenia), the model draws on millions of data points from across the region to reflect its cultural and linguistic diversity. “Thanks to Latam-GPT, we are positioning Latin America as an active, sovereign participant in the economy of the future,” President Gabriel Boric said. “We’re at the table, we’re not on the menu.” Science Minister Aldo Valle emphasized that the project seeks to counter stereotypes and generalizations…

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held another phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, highlighting the role of diplomacy and dialogue in managing regional issues, the Foreign Office (FO) said. The FO stated that the two officials “reviewed regional developments and reaffirmed the need for ongoing engagement and close coordination.” This latest exchange is part of a series of discussions between Dar and Araghchi since the beginning of the year, aimed at maintaining steady diplomatic communication amid rising regional tensions. Earlier in January, Dar had voiced concerns over the shifting regional situation during…

Boston Dynamics announced on February 10, 2026, that long-time leader Robert Playter will step down as chief executive, marking a significant leadership change at the renowned robotics company. Playter, who has been with Boston Dynamics for nearly 30 years and served as CEO since 2020, will leave at the end of February. Chief Financial Officer Amanda McMaster will serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent successor. The transition comes as parent company Hyundai Motor Group intensifies efforts to transform Boston Dynamics’ advanced robotics research into commercial and industrial applications. Investors responded positively, with Hyundai shares rising…

With just two weeks remaining, Samsung has officially confirmed that its Galaxy Unpacked event will take place on February 25, where the spotlight is expected to fall on the unveiling of the Galaxy S26 series. Tech enthusiasts can now circle the date for Galaxy Unpacked 2026. However, those anticipating sweeping hardware changes in the new Galaxy S26 lineup may need to lower their expectations. According to a report citing leaks from WinFuture, this year’s Unpacked event is likely to emphasize software improvements over substantial hardware upgrades. Leaked specifications suggest that the standard Galaxy S26 could feature a modest battery boost,…

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has announced that the crescent marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447 AH is expected to be born on February 17 at 5:01pm (PST). According to its assessment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the moon may be sighted on the evening of February 18. In a communication addressed to the Research and Reference Wing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the PMD noted that the lunar conjunction will occur at 5:01pm on February 17. Based on astronomical calculations, the department indicated a fair possibility of visibility on February 18, corresponding to the 29th of Shaban…

India’s JSW Motors, part of the JSW Group led by billionaire Sajjan Jindal, has warned that its planned first car launch could be delayed unless New Delhi speeds up approvals to import automotive parts from China, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The company, which is investing about $3 billion in making hybrid and electric vehicles in the western state of Maharashtra, had hoped to roll out its first model in the second half of 2026 using imported components while building up a local supplier base. However, JSW says delays in obtaining import licences for key parts such as safety…

Pakistan’s central bank governor says the country’s economy is set for a broader and stronger recovery than projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), highlighting resilience in key sectors despite recent economic pressures. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad said the central bank now expects the economy to grow between 3.75% and 4.75% in the fiscal year 2026, a range higher than its previous forecast and more optimistic than the IMF’s outlook. He attributed the divergence to differences in timing and methodology used in economic assessments, including flood impacts. The governor pointed to strong performance in agriculture and…