Author: EchoAsiaNews

Pakistan’s batsman Sahibzada Farhan and spinner Usman Tariq have climbed the latest ICC Men’s T20I rankings, reflecting their strong performances in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, cricket sources reported. According to the updated rankings, Farhan rose two places in the T20I batting list to become the third-ranked batter in the world, closing in on England’s Phil Salt in second position. India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the batting rankings. Usman Tariq registered one of the biggest gains among bowlers, jumping 59 places to reach 55th in the T20I bowling rankings following his impactful bowling performances in the…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India stands “firmly” with Israel following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, as he addressed lawmakers during a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. Speaking at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Modi expressed condolences for the victims of the Hamas assault. “I carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7,” Modi said. “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction…

Pakistan’s security forces have killed 34 India-backed militants in a series of high-tempo intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan over the past few days, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. In a statement, the military’s media wing said the operations targeted militants described as Indian proxies operating under the banners of “Fitna al-Khwarij” and “Fitna al-Hindustan.” According to the ISPR, 26 militants affiliated with Fitna al-Khwarij were killed on February 24 during four separate engagements across KP. Security forces intercepted a group attempting to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a precise engagement, one militant…

China has imposed new export restrictions on Japanese companies, escalating trade tensions between Beijing and Japan over concerns about Japan’s military posture and regional security issues, according to officials and industry reports. Chinese authorities announced on Tuesday that they have banned exports of certain “dual‑use” goods to a group of Japanese entities they say are linked to Japan’s defence capabilities, a move that could affect sensitive technology and materials trade. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce placed 20 Japanese organizations and companies, including subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and other major industrial groups, on an export control list that prohibits the…

South Korea and the United States have announced plans to hold their annual joint military exercises, Freedom Shield, from March 9 to 19, 2026, officials said on Wednesday, as both allies seek to strengthen their combined defense posture amid ongoing threats from North Korea. The Freedom Shield exercises, described by Seoul and Washington as defensive in nature, are a key component of the two countries’ military cooperation and are intended to enhance interoperability across command, control and operations. The drills are also expected to support preparations for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from U.S. forces to South Korea,…

Pakistan aims to conclude its first 200-megawatt (MW) electricity transaction through a competitive wheeling auction by June, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said Wednesday. The auction is being launched under the newly operational Competitive Market Operations Date (CMOD) regime, a milestone for market-based electricity trading in the country. The federal government has forwarded a summary for approval to the prime minister to initiate the auction, which will be managed by the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO). The first phase will determine buyers for up to 200MW, with plans to auction a total of 800MW through…

The Japanese government said Wednesday that a Japanese citizen has been detained in Tehran, Iran, since Jan. 20 and has formally demanded their swift release from Iranian authorities, officials announced. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki confirmed the detention at a press briefing, but declined to provide additional details about the individual’s identity or the circumstances, citing privacy concerns. Ozaki said Tokyo remains in contact with the detainee and their family and is offering necessary support while pressing Iran for a resolution. Although the Japanese government has not publicly identified the detained person, several foreign media outlets report that the…

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has acknowledged his ties to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, apologizing to staff during a town hall meeting at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A spokesperson for the foundation confirmed Gates “took responsibility for his actions” in a written statement to Reuters. Gates reportedly told employees that it was a “huge mistake” to meet with Epstein and involve foundation executives in discussions with him. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Gates said he had affairs with two Russian women that Epstein later discovered, but stressed that he had…

President Donald Trump delivered his 2026 State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, speaking before a joint session of the United States Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol. The speech lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes, making it the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history. In his opening remarks, Trump framed the nation’s condition as dramatically improved since his return to office, declaring a “turnaround for the ages” and asserting that the United States had entered a new “golden age” of strength and prosperity. A central theme of the address was Trump’s claim…

The federal government has formally rolled out a modernised QR-powered National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) system in a major upgrade to Pakistan’s identity framework, strengthening digital security and citizen facilitation, officials said on Tuesday. Published through Gazette notifications on February 24, 2026 under S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026, the reforms are part of the “One Nation – One Identity” vision aimed at unifying and digitising the country’s identity ecosystem. A key feature of the updated system is the legal introduction of Quick Response (QR) codes as a secure authentication and verification tool on identity cards. The…