Author: EchoAsiaNews

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on Monday announced that summer vacations for schools across the province will begin on May 22 amid rising temperatures and heatwave concerns. According to the minister, educational institutions will remain closed until August 23, giving students and teachers a break of more than three months. The announcement comes as Pakistan experiences increasingly hot weather conditions, with authorities warning of prolonged high temperatures in the coming weeks. Last week, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an advisory forecasting above-normal temperatures and rainfall across the province through July. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has also warned…

Filmmakers behind the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which investigates reported Israeli military strikes on hospitals in Gaza, have criticised the BBC after the broadcaster declined to air the film, citing concerns over impartiality. The documentary, which was later broadcast by Channel 4, won in the Current Affairs category at the BAFTA TV Awards on Sunday. It also received a nomination for Best Director: Factual. The BBC’s decision not to air the film had previously drawn attention, particularly as it had commissioned the investigation but chose not to broadcast it. During the awards ceremony, executive producer Ben de Pear questioned…

Australian tennis legend Mal Anderson, the first unseeded player to win the US Open men’s singles title, has died at the age of 91, Tennis Australia confirmed on Monday. Anderson, who began his career on a rural dirt court, rose to prominence as one of Australia’s leading tennis figures, winning the US Championships in 1957 along with three Grand Slam doubles titles. He also secured two Davis Cup victories during his career. At the 1957 US Championships, Anderson defeated three seeded players en route to the title, dropping only two sets throughout the tournament, marking one of the most notable…

British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, seeking at least $15 million in damages over allegations that the company used her image without permission in marketing its television products. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in a California federal court, accuses Samsung of featuring a copyrighted image of Lipa on retail packaging for its TV sets, implying an endorsement of the product without her consent. According to court filings, the image in question—titled “Dua Lipa — Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024”—is owned by Lipa, who holds all rights, title, and interest in the photograph. The…

A US-mediated ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine has come under significant pressure just two days after taking effect, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement through continued attacks over the weekend. The three-day pause, announced by US President Donald Trump as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war, has failed to hold along large sections of the front line, according to officials from both countries. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least three civilians were killed in Russian drone strikes near frontline areas, while more than 200 combat engagements were recorded since early Saturday. Regional officials…

China has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will undertake a state visit from May 13 to 15, where he is expected to hold discussions with President Xi Jinping on the ongoing Iran conflict and bilateral trade relations. According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry on Monday, the visit follows an invitation from President Xi and marks Trump’s first trip to China during his current term. The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade tariffs, the war involving Iran, and Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Trump had originally been scheduled to visit…

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, describing it as “totally unacceptable,” a move that signals continued diplomatic deadlock between Washington and Tehran. Iran had earlier submitted its response to the latest U.S.-backed peace framework through mediators, including Pakistan. The proposal reportedly emphasized an end to hostilities across multiple fronts, particularly in Lebanon, and called for guarantees on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump, posting on Truth Social, offered no details of Iran’s counterproposal but dismissed it outright, stating he had reviewed it and found it “TOTALLY…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed on Monday that Pakistan’s information technology exports are projected to reach between $4.5 billion and $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The briefing was given during a meeting chaired by the prime minister to review matters related to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Officials informed the meeting that domestic internet connectivity has expanded significantly, rising from 1.9 million connections in 2024 to 5.10 million in 2026. It was also noted that the recent 5G spectrum auction generated $509 million in revenue. The session was…

Pakistan’s young opener Azan Awais etched his name into the record books on Sunday after becoming only the 14th Pakistani batter to score a century on Test debut during the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. The 21-year-old left-hander reached the landmark in composed fashion at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, continuing an impressive debut performance after remaining unbeaten on 85 at the end of Day Two. Awais, who earned his maiden Test cap earlier this week, has been regarded as one of Pakistan’s brightest red-ball prospects following prolific performances in domestic cricket, including a standout Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign. His…

RAWALPINDI: A special ceremony is being held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to commemorate the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, also referred to as the “Battle of Truth,” marking Pakistan’s military victory during the 2025 conflict with India. The event is being attended by senior military leadership, with Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir participating as the chief guest. The ceremony honours the armed forces’ role during the 19-day conflict between Pakistan and India that lasted from April 22 to May 10, 2025. According to official accounts, tensions escalated after an attack…