Author: EchoAsiaNews

Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates has pulled out of delivering the keynote address at India’s AI Impact Summit, dealing another blow to an event already beset by organisational problems and high‑profile no‑shows, Reuters reports. The Gates Foundation said Gates would not deliver his scheduled keynote address “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.” No further explanation was provided in the statement. Gates’ withdrawal came hours before his appearance, compounding difficulties at the flagship summit in New Delhi that has faced complaints from delegates about traffic chaos, logistical lapses and other disruptions. The absence of other tech leaders,…

According to the Dawn News, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Thursday dismissed media reports suggesting a “deal” between the government and jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, calling such claims “entirely false and misleading.” “There is neither any deal nor any leniency for Imran Khan,” Tarar said in a statement shared on X, emphasizing that the former prime minister, convicted in multiple corruption cases, would face no special treatment. Imran Khan, imprisoned since August 2023 at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, is serving a 14-year sentence in a £190 million corruption case and has other convictions relating to state gifts. He…

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) has announced that the country’s airspace will remain closed to all Indian civil and military aircraft until March 23, according to a notice to airmen (Notam) issued today. Pakistan’s airspace is divided into two flight information regions (FIRs), Karachi (OPKR) and Lahore (OPLR), and the new Notam applies to both, according to a 2022 document from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). The restrictions follow escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors after an April 2025 attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. India, without providing evidence, accused Pakistan of supporting the assault,…

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Washington, D.C., today to participate in the first formal gathering of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, an international body tasked with overseeing post-ceasefire reconstruction in Gaza and establishing long-term stability in the war-torn Palestinian enclave. The meeting, hosted by President Trump at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace, brings together delegations from more than two dozen member countries—including Pakistan, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, and others—to discuss humanitarian aid, rebuilding efforts, and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF). Trump, who chairs the…

Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg is being questioned in a U.S. court on Wednesday about his company’s role in allegedly addicting children to social media, marking a pivotal moment in a landmark trial that could reshape legal accountability for tech giants. Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder of Facebook and Instagram, is appearing before a jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court for the first time to answer claims that Meta’s platforms were intentionally designed to harm young users’ mental health. The case, part of a wave of litigation targeting major social media companies, centers on allegations that features such as infinite…

Satellite imagery reveals that Iran has been actively repairing, fortifying and concealing key military and nuclear facilities, as tensions with the United States and Israel escalate and diplomatic negotiations stall, according to defense analysts and imagery reviewed by Reuters. Recent images show significant construction activity at the Parchin military complex, a site near Tehran that Western analysts say was struck by Israel in 2024 and is associated with sensitive weapons and explosives work. Iran has reportedly covered a newly built facility with a concrete shield and soil to obscure it from aerial surveillance. At the Isfahan nuclear complex, which was…

Pakistan’s men’s cricket team clinched the final spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage on Wednesday with a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia in a must-win Group A match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. Batting first, Pakistan posted 199 for 3, anchored by an unbeaten 100 from Sahibzada Farhan, his maiden T20 international century. Farhan struck 11 fours and four sixes, becoming only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in a T20 World Cup match. Off spinner Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-16, as Namibia…

Pakistan will seek clear assurances from the United States before committing troops to a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to sources cited by Geo News. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend the inaugural formal meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, alongside representatives from at least 20 countries. The meeting is expected to focus on a multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and the formation of a United Nations-authorised stabilisation force for the Palestinian territory. According to three government sources quoted by Geo News, Islamabad wants clarity on the…

South Africa completed the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with an unbeaten record after a commanding six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their final Group D match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. The win capped a perfect campaign for the Proteas, who had already secured qualification for the Super Eight stage. Put in to bat, the UAE posted a modest 122 for 6, with Alishan Sharafu top-scoring with 45 runs off 38 balls. The innings struggled to build significant partnerships, and South Africa’s pace attack, led by…

Margot Robbie, the Australian actor and producer, says she prioritises audience experience over critical praise when choosing and making films. In a recent interview with GQ Australia, Robbie stated that while filming Wuthering Heights, she never considered how critics would respond, but instead thought about how viewers would emotionally react and whether they would feel connected to the story. She emphasised that films, in her view, should be made for those who buy tickets and engage with the work, not for reviewers. Robbie also praised director Emerald Fennell for focusing on the emotional experience of Wuthering Heights rather than abstract…