Author: EchoAsiaNews

LOS ANGELES: Disney’s Camp Rock 3 is set to premiere on Disney Channel on August 13, marking the return of the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato to the franchise that launched their careers nearly two decades ago. The film will begin streaming on Disney+ a day later. The third installment reunites Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas as the fictional band Connect 3, while Demi Lovato reprises her role as Mitchie Torres. The sequel brings together the original cast alongside a new generation of performers. Ahead of the release, Nick Jonas and actress Priyanka Chopra’s four-year-old daughter, Malti Marie, was among…

WASHINGTON(Reuters): US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he secretly switched aircraft during his visit to Türkiye last month following a security assessment by the US Secret Service, saying the decision was made in response to an alleged Iranian assassination threat. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said the decision was entirely handled by the Secret Service and the US military, adding that he simply followed their recommendations. “Well, it’s only up to the Secret Service. I just follow what they’d like to do, so I go by Secret Service and the military,” Trump said. The covert operation reportedly took…

Russia: Russia said its armed forces carried out overnight precision strikes on military-related transport and logistics infrastructure in Kyiv and a major steel production facility in Zaporizhzhia, describing the attacks as part of efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s defence industry and military supply chain. According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, the strikes targeted the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, which Moscow alleged was being used to store and distribute dual-use equipment, including components for long- and medium-range drones, robotic systems and electronic warfare equipment. The ministry also claimed it struck the Kyiv-3 transport and logistics centre, describing it as a warehouse…

UNITED STATES: Actress Dakota Johnson has made her musical debut alongside boyfriend Role Model (Tucker Pillsbury), featuring on his newly released track “Love I You” from the album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, signalling a new chapter in the couple’s increasingly public relationship. Role Model confirmed that Johnson provides the female vocals on the song, revealing that he initially resisted the idea of working with his partner because he wanted to keep his personal and professional lives separate. However, after encouragement from producer and guitarist Mason Stoops, the pair recorded the collaboration, with the singer praising Johnson’s vocal performance. The…

THAILAND: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has suspended the issuance and renewal of firearm purchase licences across Thailand following a deadly school shooting that left nine people dead, marking one of the country’s worst mass killings in recent years. The emergency measures include an immediate halt to new firearm purchase permits and a nationwide review of existing gun licences. The prime minister also instructed the government to fast-track new gun control legislation featuring stricter regulations and significantly tougher penalties for firearms-related offences. Authorities have additionally ordered that legally registered firearms must remain at owners’ residences and cannot be carried in public,…

UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran pay compensation for decades of alleged damage, deaths, and regional instability, introducing new conditions that could further complicate negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the White House, Trump said Iran should compensate victims of wars, attacks, protests, and conflicts across the Middle East, describing the demand as payment for “50 years of damage.” He also called on Tehran to provide compensation for people killed in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and for US personnel affected by regional violence. The new demand came in response to Iran’s insistence…

UNITED STATES: Tesla is recalling 20,349 vehicles in the United States after federal safety regulators determined that low-beam headlights on certain models may be excessively bright, potentially reducing visibility for oncoming drivers and increasing the risk of traffic accidents. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects selected Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The agency said the headlight defect could create glare for other motorists, posing a road safety hazard. Tesla has not yet announced a final remedy for the issue, and the recall process remains under development. The latest action adds to a…

PAKISTAN: Bahria Town founder Malik Riaz Hussain has appealed to Pakistan’s top leadership to intervene over what he describes as the forced seizure and auction of Bahria Town assets, warning that continued legal actions could have serious consequences for investors, employees, allottees, and the country’s real estate sector. In a detailed representation, Malik Riaz claimed that Bahria Town properties with an estimated market value of Rs238.6 billion have either been attached, taken into possession, or placed under auction proceedings despite multiple legal cases remaining pending before the courts. He argued that the continued disposal of key assets has disrupted business…

SOUTH AFRICA: At least 14 illegal miners have been killed and scores of others injured following an incident at a disused mine near Rustenburg in South Africa’s North West province, police confirmed on Tuesday. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the incident or provided further details on the circumstances surrounding the fatalities. A senior provincial police official has been dispatched to the site as emergency responders assess the situation and investigate the incident. The scale of the casualties has raised fresh concerns over safety conditions at abandoned mining sites, where illegal mining operations continue despite repeated law enforcement…

SOUTH KOREA: The death of K-pop influencer Mina Chan, 26, has renewed concerns over online harassment and toxic fan culture after police confirmed she was found dead at her residence in Seoul following weeks of intense criticism on social media. According to local reports, authorities discovered Chan’s body on August 5 after an acquaintance alerted police. Her death was later confirmed by her younger sister, who paid tribute to her in a message shared on social media. Chan, who had built a following of more than 80,000 on TikTok, was widely known within the ENHYPEN fan community. In the weeks…