Author: EchoAsiaNews

Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said on Wednesday he will meet FIFA President Gianni Infantino within the next three to four days to seek assurances over Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Taj said Iran wants guarantees that its national team will be treated “with respect” during the tournament, amid rising political and diplomatic tensions surrounding travel and security arrangements. The comments follow Canada’s decision last week to deny Taj entry, citing his alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which both Canada and the United States classify as a terrorist entity.…

An Israeli airstrike has killed the son of Hamas chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official said on Thursday, as US-mediated talks over Gaza’s future continue. Azzam Al-Hayya died on Thursday from injuries sustained in the strike carried out late Wednesday, according to Hamas official Basim Naim. He is reported to be the fourth son of the exiled Hamas leader to have been killed in Israeli military operations. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident. The strike comes as Hamas leaders hold talks in Cairo aimed at preserving the existing truce…

Ted Turner, the US media entrepreneur who revolutionized global broadcasting with the launch of the world’s first 24-hour news channel CNN in 1980, has died at the age of 87, the network confirmed on Wednesday. Turner, a larger-than-life figure known for his bold business moves, philanthropy, and distinctive public persona, had been battling Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder. His creation, Cable News Network, fundamentally reshaped modern journalism by introducing continuous, real-time news coverage. The channel rose to global prominence during the Gulf War in 1990–91, when its live reporting from Baghdad set a new benchmark for war coverage…

A commemorative event titled “MARKA-E-HAQ PAKISTAN – Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, Battle of Truth Victory Day” was held in Dallas to mark the first anniversary of what was described by participants as Pakistan’s victory in the May 5, 2025 conflict with India. The gathering was attended by a large number of members of the Pakistani diaspora community. It was hosted by community leader Abdul Hafeez Khan and featured speeches from political representatives, diplomats, journalists, and business figures. The chief guests included Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi and Overseas Pakistani Foundation Chairman Syed Qamar Raza, along with Vice Consul General from Houston Usher Shahzad.…

Pakistan has joined a coalition of 13 countries condemning Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla, as international criticism intensifies over the handling of activists, worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and ongoing military developments in the conflict. In a joint statement, foreign ministers from Pakistan, Türkiye, Indonesia, Spain, South Africa, and several other countries denounced the Israeli military’s seizure of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying activists and aid materials intended for Gaza. The group described the interception as a “flagrant violation” of international law, arguing that the operation took place in international waters and amounted to unlawful…

Taiwan has conducted the maiden torpedo test firing of its first domestically developed submarine, marking a significant milestone in its indigenous defense programme aimed at strengthening deterrence against China. The test was carried out on Wednesday by CSBC Corp, the state-backed shipbuilder leading the construction of the submarine project. In a statement on Thursday, the company said the vessel, named Narwhal, successfully completed its first torpedo test, validating key combat systems including detection, tracking, fire control, launch, and torpedo guidance. The submarine had earlier conducted its first underwater sea trials in January. It is part of Taiwan’s broader plan to…

Rex Concepts, a quick-service restaurant operator, saw its shares decline around 3% on Thursday during its market debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, marking the first initial public offering (IPO) on the exchange this year. The company priced its shares at 14 zlotys each in the IPO, raising approximately 448 million zlotys ($124 million) through the issuance of 32 million new shares. In addition, selling shareholder Rex Invest CEE offloaded 3.55 million existing shares, bringing the total value of the offering to nearly 498 million zlotys. Despite the capital raised, Rex Concepts’ shares opened at 13.6 zlotys, valuing the company…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the circulation of fake AI-generated images of herself, describing deepfakes as a “dangerous tool” capable of deceiving, manipulating, and targeting individuals. Meloni shared one of the fabricated images on her social media accounts on Tuesday, showing her in what she described as sexually explicit and manipulated content that had recently been circulating online. The prime minister used the post to highlight the broader risks posed by artificial intelligence-generated misinformation. “I have to admit that whoever created them, at least in the case attached, has actually made me look a lot better,” she wrote,…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday that Australia’s men’s cricket team will tour Pakistan for a three-match One Day International (ODI) series later this month. According to the PCB, the Australian squad is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on May 23. The opening match of the series will be played on May 30 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The remaining two ODIs will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and June 4. All matches are set to begin at 4:30pm local time, with the toss scheduled for 4:00pm. The PCB said this will be Australia’s first…

A widening trade deficit of up to $32 billion is posing renewed pressure on Pakistan’s balance of payments as the fiscal year draws to a close, according to industry and financial sources. Analysts warn that final external payments due before June 30 could further strain foreign exchange reserves. Market experts say the recent “managed exchange rate” policy has contributed to distortions in trade flows by keeping the dollar relatively cheaper, which they argue has encouraged higher imports, particularly of luxury goods such as high-end vehicles. This, in turn, has widened the import bill at a time of already fragile external…