Author: EchoAsiaNews

Air India experienced a sharp rise in technical incidents in January, reaching the highest rate in at least 14 months, according to an internal company document submitted to the Indian government and reviewed by Reuters. The airline recorded 1.09 technical incidents per 1,000 flights in January, more than four times the 0.26 rate in December 2024, with 23 incidents reported across more than 17,500 domestic and international flights. Most of these incidents were formally investigated by the airline and included engine stall warnings, flight control and hydraulic issues, and multiple instances of engine oil and fuel leaks. At least five…

The British Academy of Film Awards (BAFTA) and the BBC issued apologies Monday following the broadcast of a racial slur during Sunday’s ceremony while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage presenting, according to AP News. The slur was shouted by John Davidson, a campaigner for Tourette syndrome, who later said he was “deeply mortified” and that his words “do not reflect my personal beliefs,” AP News reported. BAFTA expressed regret for the incident, saying the offensive language “carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many.” The organization also thanked Jordan and Lindo for displaying “incredible dignity and…

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet Tuesday with Dario Amodei, CEO of the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, which has resisted providing its technology for a new internal military network, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Anthropic, maker of the AI chatbot Claude, has not commented on the upcoming meeting, but Amodei has previously voiced ethical concerns about the government’s use of AI, including the risks of fully autonomous armed drones and AI-assisted mass surveillance capable of tracking dissent. The meeting underscores broader debate over AI’s role in national security, particularly the potential…

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan intervened to halt a plan by Sohail Afridi to create an “Imran Khan Release Force,” aimed at securing the release of the jailed former prime minister, according to party sources. The intervention, carried out directly and through senior party figures, followed Afridi’s public announcement about forming a dedicated force. Sources said Gohar warned that establishing any entity requiring an oath for a political objective could be interpreted as unconstitutional, unlawful, and potentially linked to militancy. In an apparent move to build political consensus, Gohar also engaged opposition leaders, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected as general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea during the party’s key five-yearly congress, state media reported on Monday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said Kim’s re-election came with the “unshakable will and unanimous desire” of thousands of delegates. The congress highlighted his leadership in strengthening the country’s military capabilities, with plans reportedly to double North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. The party’s new 138-member Central Committee features significant personnel changes, replacing several senior officials with younger cadres. Notably, the 76-year-old head of Pyongyang’s parliament was removed from the lineup,…

Supermodel Bella Hadid has opened up about the professional and emotional impact of her ongoing battle with Lyme disease, saying the illness forced her to turn down virtually all work for nearly a year and made her feel “disposable,” according to a recent interview published by Vogue Italia. Hadid, 29, spoke candidly about the toll that stepping away from her career for Lyme disease treatment took on her sense of self‑worth, and how the experience has changed the way she approaches her work. She discussed the conversation with her sister, Gigi Hadid, in which she explained learning to set boundaries…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha on Monday for a two-day official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and investment, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office. The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Upon arrival at Hamad International Airport, the prime minister was received by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with senior officials, is accompanying the premier. According to the Foreign Office, Sharif is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the…

Pakistan will meet England in their second Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday, with semifinal qualification implications looming large for both sides. Pakistan return to action after their previous Super Eight match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, leaving them with a single point and limited room for error in the group stage. England, meanwhile, opened their Super Eight campaign with a disciplined victory over Sri Lanka, successfully defending a modest total to move to the top of the standings. Pakistan and New Zealand follow with one point…

All seven people aboard an air ambulance were killed when the aircraft crashed in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand, officials said on Tuesday. The Beechcraft C90 medical evacuation plane, operated by Redbird Airways, took off from Ranchi on Monday evening bound for New Delhi but encountered problems shortly after departure, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Authorities said the aircraft requested a change of flight path because of adverse weather conditions before losing communication and radar contact about 20 minutes after takeoff. It crashed in the Chatra district, an area of dense forest where rescue teams later…

United States President Donald Trump has rejected media reports that General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned him about the risks of a potential military attack on Iran. Trump labelled the reports as “100 percent incorrect” and accused the media of spreading misinformation. The reports, published on Monday by outlets including The Washington Post and Axios, said General Caine had highlighted possible complications in any campaign against Tehran. According to the reports, Caine warned that a strike could become protracted, draw the United States into a wider conflict and expose US forces to casualties. Officials…