Author: EchoAsiaNews

Tensions flared along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border after Afghan Taliban forces opened unprovoked fire in the Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting an immediate and effective response from Pakistani security forces, officials said on Tuesday. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that firing was initiated from the Afghan side in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors. He stated that Pakistani forces “responded immediately and effectively,” bringing the situation under control and “silencing the Taliban aggression.” The spokesperson warned that any further provocation would be met with a swift and severe response,…

Iran’s government responded to renewed student protests on university campuses by emphasising that while students have a right to demonstrate, they must respect “red lines” such as the national flag and sacred symbols, in its first official statement since rallies began over the weekend. A government spokeswoman, Fatemeh Mohajerani, told state media on Tuesday that student anger was “understandable” given recent events, but insisted that participants must “understand the red lines” and refrain from actions perceived as attacks on national sanctities. “Sacred things and the flag are two examples of these red lines … even at the height of anger,”…

More than a dozen international humanitarian organizations have filed a petition with Israel’s Supreme Court seeking to block an imminent government ban that would force dozens of aid groups to stop operating in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem. The petition, submitted by 17 organizations, including some of those directly affected by the proposed ban, calls for an urgent interim injunction to suspend enforcement of the ban while the court reviews the case. The legal challenge argues that the Israeli measures are incompatible with the responsibilities of an occupying power under international humanitarian law. Earlier, Israeli authorities…

South Korea’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor, has warned that U.S. tariff pressure could intensify despite a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting broad import duties. Hyundai President Sung Kim urged South Korean lawmakers to quickly approve legislation connected to a $350 billion U.S. investment package under last year’s bilateral trade agreement, saying that without swift action, sector‑specific tariffs on autos, steel, and semiconductors could return or increase. The trade deal would reduce U.S. tariffs on South Korean imports from 25% to 15%, but the Trump administration has threatened to reimpose or expand tariffs on countries perceived as not fully complying with agreements.…

Foreign ministers from 19 countries, including Turkiye, Qatar, France, and Brazil, have jointly condemned Israel’s efforts to expand control over Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, calling the policy a “de facto annexation.” The statement, coordinated by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also received backing from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The ministers criticized Israel’s plan to implement land registration across Area C, which covers roughly 60 percent of the West Bank, warning that it would enable the seizure of land from Palestinians unable to prove ownership. They described the move…

Unidentified gunmen shot and killed five policemen in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Kohat on Tuesday, police officials said, in the latest militant attack targeting security forces near the Afghan border. The assailants also burnt the patrol vehicle in the assault, a regional police spokesman told Reuters. The attack occurred as the policemen were on patrol in Kohat, a city adjacent to the volatile tribal districts that have long been a focus of Islamist militancy. A senior officer was among those killed, according to the police statement, underscoring the risks faced by law enforcement on routes frequently used by insurgent groups.…

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan publicly defended the Punjab government’s controversial purchase of a new business jet, rejecting accusations that the aircraft is a personal asset of the chief minister and dismissing criticism as political “propaganda.” Sanaullah made the remarks during a Senate session on Monday, arguing that the swap was a legitimate government acquisition rather than a personal luxury. Rana Sanaullah said the jet was intended to replace an older aircraft that had been in service for 25–30 years and asserted that the new plane could serve the province for another 30–40 years, making it…

Cryptocurrency markets are trading cautiously on Tuesday, with major assets including Bitcoin slipping toward the low $60,000s as broader risk‑off sentiment weighs on risk assets. Bitcoin was reported trading close to $62,900, reflecting an ongoing slide amid global economic uncertainty and renewed pressure on financial markets. Traders cited growing caution among investors retreating from higher‑volatility instruments such as digital assets. Altcoins largely mirrored this weak mood, with prices for tokens such as XRP and Ethereum also under pressure, even as analysts note mixed performance across smaller tokens. Crypto market volatility has persisted through the past week, contributing to liquidations and…

Former One Direction star Zayn Malik is celebrating a major digital success with his latest single, “Die For Me”, marking a new milestone on streaming platforms. Released on February 5 via Mercury Records, the track amassed over 1.4 million streams on Spotify on its first day and has since reached more than six million streams. The song, the lead single from Malik’s upcoming fifth studio album KONNAKOL, set for release on April 17, 2026, has already become his fifth most popular track on Spotify, boosting his monthly listener count. The official music video has also resonated with fans, garnering over…

An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a busy fruit and vegetable market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co‑pilot and two merchants, state media and international news agencies reported. The incident occurred in the city of Dorcheh (Khomeyni Shahr County), about 330 km south of Tehran, where emergency services responded to the scene and extinguished a fire caused by the crash. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the military aircraft came down near the local wholesale produce market, with all four fatalities confirmed. Initial state reports attributed the crash to a technical malfunction, though…