Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile industry has called on the government to immediately resolve the indefinite goods transport strike, warning that continued disruptions could delay exports, interrupt cotton supplies and affect industrial production. In a letter to Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) said the nationwide strike by the All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad, which began on August 8, has severely affected the movement of export consignments and raw materials. APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said export containers, imported cotton shipments and trucks transporting locally procured cotton have become unavailable due to the strike, creating…

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed five militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Panjgur district, recovering heavy weapons, machine guns and ammunition, according to security sources. The operation was conducted in the Sarkini and Chedgi areas under Operation Rad-ul-Fitna-3 and targeted an armed militant network operating in the region. Security sources said one of those killed was identified as commander Wazir, son of Jamal. Four motorcycles, machine guns, heavy weapons and a cache of ammunition were recovered during the operation, the sources added. Weapons Seized as Clearance Operation Continues According to security sources, the militants were allegedly involved in armed…

PARIS: Pakistan’s Khawaja Muhammad Zubair secured the Tekken 8 Esports World Cup 2026 championship after defeating South Korea’s LowHigh in a one-sided 5-0 grand final, claiming the biggest title of his esports career. The Tekken 8 tournament, held from August 5 to 8, featured 32 of the world’s top competitors battling for the championship and a share of the prize pool. Zubair’s victory earned him $300,000 in prize money along with 1,000 Club Championship points. Competing under the tag AG M. Zubair, the Pakistani star delivered a flawless performance in the final, not conceding a single game against the experienced…

MOSCOW: Russian forces carried out overnight strikes against infrastructure at Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said Russian forces targeted fuel storage facilities in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, as well as facilities in Biliari and Novi Biliari near Odesa. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the facilities were being used in support of the Ukrainian military. The ministry did not provide further details on the scale of the damage or casualties from the reported strikes. The claims could not immediately be independently verified.

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s cabinet will propose a 16% increase in defence spending for 2027, taking the island’s military budget above T$1 trillion ($31 billion) for the first time, official media reported Sunday. The proposed budget, expected to exceed T$1.1 trillion, will be unveiled on August 20 and include funding for the military, coast guard, veterans and special defence projects, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. The spending increase comes as Taiwan expands its military capabilities amid growing pressure from China, which claims the self-governed island as part of its territory. Taipei rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. The proposed defence budget will account for…

SEOUL: A former employee of South Korean semiconductor maker SK Hynix has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for leaking semiconductor manufacturing technology to a Chinese company, Yonhap News Agency reported Sunday. The Seoul High Court upheld the sentence on appeal after finding the former employee guilty of leaking classified information related to CMOS image sensor technology to a Chinese firm in 2022. What Technology Was Leaked? The leaked information involved CMOS image sensors, a type of non-memory semiconductor technology widely used in smartphone cameras and laptops. According to Yonhap, the information concerned semiconductor manufacturing technology that SK Hynix…

BERLIN: Germany’s trade deficit with China widened sharply in the first half of 2026 as German exports to China fell by more than 12% while imports from the Asian country increased, preliminary data from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) showed. German exports to China dropped to just under €37 billion between January and June, making China only the ninth-largest market for German goods. China had been Germany’s second-largest export destination as recently as 2021. At the same time, German imports from China rose 8.9% to €91.8 billion, widening Germany’s trade deficit with China to about €55 billion, compared with €40…

ANKARA: Egypt could join the defence pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saturday, describing the agreement as technically similar to NATO’s Article 5 mutual-defence principle. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Friday, committing to treat an armed attack against any one of the three countries as an attack against all three. Fidan said the agreement was not directed against Iran or any other country and was intended to strengthen collective security and deterrence. What Does the Defence Pact Provide? Speaking to state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan…

KARACHI: An initial medical report following the exhumation and post-mortem examination of businessman Mir Raza Ali indicates that he sustained a gunshot wound from behind and had multiple injuries on his body, according to sources cited by Geo News. The report, a copy of which was obtained by Geo News, reportedly addresses all 14 points raised by police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed during the examination. Ali’s body was exhumed for a post-mortem examination and later reburied at a graveyard near Tariq Road. What Does the Medical Report Reveal? According to the report, Ali sustained a gunshot wound to the rear…

LONDON: Christine McGuinness has described co-parenting with former husband Paddy McGuinness as a “blessing” despite the difficulties surrounding their divorce. The couple separated in 2022 but have continued living together in their family home to maintain stability for their three children. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Christine said divorce had been a difficult experience but acknowledged that their decision to remain under the same roof had worked well for their family. Why Have Christine and Paddy Continued Living Together? Christine said the couple chose to continue sharing their home because their children benefit from having a stable and consistent routine.…