Author: EchoAsiaNews

VIETNAM: A Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787 carrying 271 passengers and 16 crew members returned to Munich after warnings of a possible tail strike and low tyre pressure were triggered shortly after takeoff, Vietnam’s aviation authority said. The Hanoi-bound aircraft took off on Sunday and remained airborne for more than two hours to burn fuel before returning to the German airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said the aircraft’s systems indicated possible contact between the aircraft’s tail and the runway, along with low tyre pressure. Vietnam Airlines had initially described the incident as a technical issue and confirmed that all…

UNITED STATES: Investors are increasingly shifting their focus from whether Big Tech’s massive artificial intelligence spending will generate returns to identifying the companies most likely to benefit from sustained AI demand. The change follows stronger-than-expected results from major cloud providers, which have reassured markets that demand for AI infrastructure remains strong despite concerns over the scale of capital expenditure. Microsoft and Amazon reported robust cloud growth in their latest earnings, helping ease concerns that the multibillion-dollar investments being made in AI infrastructure could fail to generate sufficient returns. Cloud growth is accelerating while shortages of computing capacity continue, increasing the…

INDIA: The Reserve Bank of India’s increased intervention in the foreign-exchange market is keeping the rupee unusually stable despite volatile oil prices and strong dollar demand, according to bankers and traders. State-run banks have repeatedly sold dollars when the rupee came under pressure, with traders saying the intervention has limited currency movements amid heightened volatility linked to the conflict in West Asia. The rupee slipped to 95.4775 per dollar in early trading on Monday but remained within a range of about 10 paisa. Traders said the RBI sold dollars during the session, extending its intervention to every trading session since…

BANGLADESH: Bangladesh has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not visit India until New Delhi extradites former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following the 2024 uprising that ended her government. Dhaka has repeatedly requested her extradition after she was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death in Bangladesh. Foreign ministry official AKM Shahidul Karim said Sunday that a “propitious environment” must be created before Rahman visits India. He said Dhaka had urged Indian authorities to expedite the extradition of Hasina and other fugitives. India has said Bangladesh’s request remains under examination. Dhaka-Delhi Ties Remain Strained…

MYANMAR: Myanmar’s military-backed government has verified 308,797 displaced people in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine State, but said their repatriation cannot begin until security conditions in the conflict-affected region improve. The figures were released by Myanmar’s foreign ministry after it reviewed 828,824 names submitted by Bangladesh as of July 31, 2026. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017 following a military crackdown in Myanmar, according to the United Nations. Thousands more have continued to leave Myanmar in recent years through dangerous land and sea routes as violence and insecurity persist in Rakhine State. Myanmar said 4,241 people…

UNITED STATES: US singer Taylor Swift unveiled a shorter hairstyle during a wedding ceremony for longtime collaborators Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk in the United Kingdom on August 15. Swift attended the event alongside fellow music industry figures Sabrina Carpenter, Jack Antonoff and Phoebe Bridgers. Swift appeared at the wedding with shoulder-length hair styled in loose curls and side-swept bangs. She paired the new look with a navy blue Costarellos tulle gown featuring gold floral embroidery. Swift’s New Look Draws Attention After Wedding The appearance marked Swift’s second public outing with the shorter hairstyle. She first revealed the haircut three…

UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump’s envoys held talks with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators in Cairo on Sunday to advance Washington’s Gaza peace plan, while Israel continued airstrikes across the enclave. Trump’s son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner, along with Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov, participated in the discussions, with Hamas officials attending some of the meetings, according to a diplomatic source. The talks come as efforts to implement Trump’s proposed roadmap face renewed obstacles. The plan calls for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, an Israeli military withdrawal and the reconstruction of…

PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo has given his clearest indication yet that he could retire from professional football after the upcoming season, saying he wants to leave a “spectacular legacy” after more than two decades at the highest level. The 41-year-old Portugal captain made the remarks in an interview with Vogue published on Sunday, saying the current campaign will “probably” be his final year in football. Ronaldo has not formally announced his retirement, but his comments mark a significant shift from his previous statements about continuing his career. He remains under contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr until 2027 and is…

UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing the pact as a “bold and important first step” toward stronger regional security cooperation. In a post on Truth Social, Trump congratulated the leadership of the three countries and said the agreement demonstrated how countries in the Middle East could strengthen their ability to defend themselves. “It shows how the Middle East is coming together, and how Countries will finally be able to defend themselves in a more meaningful way,” Trump said. The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed on…

UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing concerns that the drills send an inappropriate and hostile signal to North Korea. Trump said the decision came shortly before the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises were due to begin, adding that it was too late to cancel the drills entirely. The exercises are scheduled to run from August 17 to 27, with about 18,000 South Korean troops participating. The training is expected to include counter-drone operations, GPS disruption and cyberattack response as the allies adapt to North Korea’s evolving…