Author: EchoAsiaNews

Millions of football fans across the world’s two most populous nations, India and China, face the prospect of missing the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 as negotiations over broadcast rights remain unresolved just weeks before kickoff. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that in India, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company has offered approximately $20 million for the tournament’s media rights — significantly below the valuation sought by FIFA. The offer was deemed insufficient, and discussions have yet to yield an agreement. Meanwhile, Sony Group Corporation, which previously held sports broadcasting rights in India,…

The United Arab Emirates has entered discussions with the United States over establishing a bilateral currency swap line, a move that signals deepening financial integration between the two economies and could elevate the UAE into a select group of Washington’s key monetary partners. Speaking at the “Make It In The Emirates” forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani Al Zeyoudi confirmed that negotiations are underway, describing the arrangement as part of an “elite group” framework currently limited to a handful of countries. “This is not about financial support or bailout mechanisms,” Al Zeyoudi emphasized. “It…

Pakistani actor Nimra Khan has announced her second marriage, sharing a series of wedding photographs from Paris that quickly gained attention on social media. The actor posted images from what appeared to be an intimate ceremony, featuring cinematic backdrops and stylised visuals. For the occasion, she wore a rose pink sleeveless dress paired with a fascinator, giving her bridal look a distinctive and classic aesthetic. Despite the announcement, Nimra Khan kept details about her husband private, choosing not to reveal his identity or share his face in the images. In a message accompanying the post, she described the marriage as…

Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has ruled that prolonged reserved judgments in superior courts are unlawful, declaring that verdicts issued beyond the prescribed time frame may be invalid. The seven-page judgment, authored by Justice Aamir Farooq, was issued in response to a petition filed by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation against a ruling by the Sindh High Court in a pension dispute case. The court held that high courts are bound to deliver reserved judgments within 90 days, emphasizing that the procedural rules of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and high courts carry the force of law and must be…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday declared a “record” electoral victory in the eastern state of West Bengal, as official trends showed his Bharatiya Janata Party gaining a decisive majority in a region long dominated by opposition forces. Vote counting continued under tight security across the state of more than 100 million people, one of five regions that went to polls in April and May, with results being announced simultaneously. According to data from the Election Commission of India, the BJP was leading in 156 of 293 seats and had already won 48, positioning the party for a landmark…

Iran said it had forced a U.S. warship to turn back from entering the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite a fragile ceasefire, while the United States denied any vessel had been struck. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iranian forces had fired a warning shot, adding it was unclear whether the warship was damaged. Iran’s navy said it issued a “swift and decisive warning” to prevent what it described as “American-Zionist” forces from entering the strategic waterway. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that two missiles hit the warship near the port of Jask, at the southern entrance…

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Monday announced the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Team of the Tournament, with Babar Azam named captain following a title-winning campaign. The selection panel, comprising five members from the commentary team, chose a squad featuring players from across the league. The team includes three players each from Peshawar Zalmi and Hyderabad Kingsmen, two each from Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, and one player each from Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators. A total of 44 matches were played during the tournament, which ran from March 26 to May 3 in Lahore and Karachi. Babar Azam led…

Pop star Taylor Swift could make a high-profile return to the Met Gala red carpet for the first time since 2016, as speculation intensifies ahead of this year’s event in New York. The 36-year-old Grammy-winning artist has not attended the annual fashion event in nearly a decade, but fans and industry observers point to subtle signals from insiders suggesting a possible appearance this year. The 2026 Met Gala, scheduled for May 4, will be co-chaired by Beyoncé, a development that has reportedly encouraged several high-profile celebrities to return after years of absence. Online speculation has also focused on Swift’s personal…

Protesters gathered in Tel Aviv calling for an end to Israel’s ongoing conflicts, as the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in southern Lebanon amid rising tensions with Hezbollah. According to reports, Israeli forces urged residents of multiple towns and villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes and move at least 1,000 metres away, citing ongoing military operations. The military said the action followed what it described as a violation of a ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah, warning civilians to stay clear of areas near the group’s fighters and infrastructure. Israel has continued to carry out strikes across southern…

DAMASCUS: Iraq has begun exporting crude oil to Syria through the al-Yarubiyah border crossing, marking the first such shipment along the route in 14 years, according to Syrian state media. A convoy of 70 Iraqi oil tankers crossed into سوريا and is en route to the Baniyas refinery on the Mediterranean coast, officials said. A Syrian official at the crossing described the reopening as a strategic step to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, adding that it would facilitate commercial and energy shipments and support long-term cooperation. The development comes as Iraq looks to diversify its export routes amid…