Author: EchoAsiaNews

Passenger train services between China and North Korea are set to resume this week after a six-year suspension imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The international train, known as the K27 service, will depart from Beijing and travel through the Chinese border city of Dandong before crossing into North Korea and arriving in Pyongyang after a journey of more than 24 hours. Rail authorities say the route will operate four times a week, restoring an important cross-border transport link between the two countries that was halted in 2020 due to strict pandemic border closures. The service is expected to facilitate travel…

Two oil tankers caught fire in Iraqi territorial waters after suspected Iranian attacks, highlighting the growing maritime dimension of the ongoing war between Iran and the United States and its allies. Maritime officials say explosive-laden boats or projectiles struck the vessels near Iraq’s Al-Faw port, killing at least one crew member and forcing the rescue of dozens of sailors. The incident came as U.S. President Donald Trump insisted the United States had effectively “won” the war but signaled military operations would continue until Washington finishes its objectives. Iranian officials rejected that claim and warned the conflict could severely disrupt global…

Australia’s David Warner has been named captain of the Karachi Kings for the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the franchise announced on Wednesday, confirming his leadership role for a second consecutive term. The decision comes ahead of the tournament’s anticipated start next week, with teams finalising squads and leadership appointments. Warner, one of the most experienced international batsmen in the PSL, led the Kings during the 2025 season, earning praise for his tactical acumen and on‑field leadership. Karachi Kings management said they have renewed confidence in his ability to guide the side through the challenges of PSL 11.…

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended its recent rally on Wednesday, with the benchmark KSE‑100 Index gaining more than 1,900 points as investor confidence rose on the back of falling global oil prices and strong market sentiment, market data showed. The KSE‑100 index closed at 158,189.66 points after advancing 2,012.54 points, or 1.29%, from the previous session’s close of 156,177.12, marking a continuation of bullish momentum. Market analysts attributed the rally to improved investor sentiment following the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to keep its key policy rate unchanged at 10.5%, which reassured traders and revived risk appetite. Declining oil…

Indian airlines are facing severe disruptions to their international operations as Middle East airspace restrictions linked to the ongoing Iran war compound the effects of a longstanding Pakistan airspace ban, industry data and analysts said on Tuesday. Airspace closures in the Gulf and wider West Asia, prompted by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, have forced carriers to reroute or suspend flights, adding to delays, cancellations and rising operational costs. The situation is particularly acute for India’s largest international airlines, Air India and IndiGo. According to aviation data from Cirium, the two carriers failed to operate about…

An explosion struck the Belgravia home of a British‑Indian man previously arrested for his involvement in an attack on the Pakistan High Commission in London, authorities and neighbours said, in an incident that has prompted an ongoing investigation by UK police. The blast occurred late last week at the flat of Ankit Love, a British‑Indian national and chief patron of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), who has been charged in connection with the April 27, 2025, vandalism of the Pakistan diplomatic mission during protests amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Neighbours reported hearing a loud explosion…

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, saying that if Tehran places naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and fails to remove them immediately, the United States will respond with military consequences “at a level never seen before,” according to his post on the Truth Social platform. Trump’s comments come amid reports that Iran may have begun deploying mines in the strategic waterway, a key chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s crude oil normally transits. “If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and they are not removed forthwith, the…

Elon Musk has been named the wealthiest individual ever recorded, with an estimated net worth of $839 billion, according to the latest Forbes World’s Billionaires list released Tuesday. Musk, who leads major companies including Tesla and SpaceX, topped the ranking for a second consecutive year as his fortune surged by roughly $500 billion over the past 12 months. The extraordinary increase was driven by rising stock valuations in the tech and space sectors. The 2026 list, the 40th annual Forbes ranking, features a record 3,428 billionaires, whose combined wealth reached an unprecedented $20.1 trillion, up from $16.1 trillion a year…

Iran has released a Lego‑style animated video as part of its ongoing propaganda campaign against the United States and Israel amid the widening Middle East conflict, state media and international news agencies reported. The two‑minute animation, produced by Iran’s state‑run Revayat‑e Fath institute, was broadcast on Iranian television and circulated widely on social media platforms including X and Meta‑owned services. The video uses toy‑like figures to depict key political figures and events related to the conflict. The animation opens with Lego‑type depictions of US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a devil‑like character examining an album captioned…

State investigators in New Mexico have launched a search at the remote property once owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as part of a reopened criminal investigation into alleged illegal activity at the site, authorities said. The search of the sprawling Zorro Ranch estate, located about 30 miles south of Santa Fe, was ordered by Raúl Torrez, New Mexico’s Attorney General, and carried out with assistance from the New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning. The action follows the release of previously sealed U.S. Department of Justice files that have renewed scrutiny of…