Author: EchoAsiaNews

LOS ANGELES: Taylor Swift fans have revived what appears to be the only publicly available live performance from her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl (TLOAS), as the singer remains away from the spotlight following her wedding. The clip, shared widely across social media, features Swift performing a brief excerpt of the song “Elizabeth Taylor” during an interview with The New York Times. The renewed attention comes amid continued speculation about Swift’s future projects, including reports of a new album, Taylor Swift 13, Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version) and a possible European tour, none of which have been officially confirmed.…

KINGSTON: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has equalled the national record for the most Player of the Series awards won by a Pakistani cricketer across all international formats after helping Pakistan secure the Test series against the West Indies. Babar was named co-recipient of the Player of the Series award alongside West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves following the two-match series. The award takes Babar’s career tally to 10, drawing him level with former Pakistan captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram at the top of the all-time list. How Did Babar Azam Earn the Award? Babar finished as the leading run-scorer in…

WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has called for adherence to international law in resolving the Kashmir dispute, saying it provides the only viable framework for ensuring lasting peace and stability in South Asia. Speaking at a webinar organised by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington to mark Youm-e-Istehsal, Sheikh said Pakistan should also leverage its growing international credibility to advance its position on the Kashmir dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The event, titled “Contemporary Challenges to International Law in South Asia: Jammu and Kashmir Dispute and the Indus Waters Treaty,” marked the seventh anniversary…

TEHRAN (AFP): Iran and Oman have agreed on the route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are finalising a joint framework to manage the strategic waterway, Iran said on Wednesday, while maintaining that any broader reopening depends on the United States ending what Tehran describes as its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the geographical coordinates of the proposed shipping route had been agreed upon and that a joint statement between Tehran and Muscat was in the final stages of review and drafting. The development comes as security concerns continue to affect…

DHAKA (Reuters): The ancestral home of former Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan was attacked on Wednesday after he participated in a virtual media event featuring ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, police said. According to authorities, a group of attackers smashed windows and hurled bricks and two petrol bombs at the residence in Magura, about 170 kilometres southwest of Dhaka. A fire broke out on the upper floor of the house, which was unoccupied at the time. No injuries were reported. Reuters was unable to reach Shakib for comment. What Triggered the Attack? The attack occurred hours after Shakib,…

LOS ANGELES: Actor and entrepreneur Blake Lively has announced the launch of a new curly hair collection under her beauty brand, Blake Brown Beauty, with the products set to debut on August 10. Lively unveiled the upcoming collection through a teaser shared on her Instagram Stories, writing, “The curls you’ve been craving… coming 8.10,” alongside a preview of the new products. The announcement marks the latest expansion of Blake Brown Beauty, which has continued to broaden its range of haircare products. What Did Blake Lively Announce? The teaser confirmed that Blake Brown Beauty will introduce a dedicated curly hair collection…

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has proposed an amendment to the Election Rules, 2017, seeking powers to directly obtain clarifications from lawmakers and relevant institutions over any ambiguity in annual statements of assets and liabilities. According to a draft notification issued by the ECP, the proposed amendment would insert a new proviso into Rule 137, authorising the Commission to seek explanations not only from members of parliament and provincial assemblies but also from any person, government department, organisation or financial institution. Under the proposed amendment, all entities approached by the Commission would be legally bound to provide the…

WELLINGTON: A New Zealand city councillor drew widespread attention after joining an official council meeting from a bathroom, with laundry visible in the background during the live-streamed session. Councillor Jo Galer logged into a Dunedin City Council meeting on Monday, prompting a light-hearted exchange with Mayor Sophie Barker after the meeting began. In footage from the meeting, the mayor asked Galer to adjust her camera, saying, “You might want to move your camera. We can see your washing.” Galer responded by asking whether participants could see her, adding, “You can see my washing, you can see me.” What happened during…

BOSTON: BTS members V, Jungkook and J-Hope were spotted walking through the streets of Boston ahead of the group’s upcoming ARIRANG World Tour concerts, with fan-recorded videos of the outing quickly gaining traction across social media. The videos, shared by fans on various platforms, show the three artists enjoying a casual stroll through the city before BTS’ scheduled performances at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on August 5 and 6. The sighting drew significant attention from fans, with several clips showing Jungkook recording V, while J-Hope walked alongside the pair during the outing. What happened during the Boston outing? Multiple videos…

GENEVA: A powerful El Niño weather event could push nearly 49 million additional people into acute food insecurity by the end of next year, raising the global total to 274 million people across 45 vulnerable countries, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday. In a new report, the WFP said there is an 81% probability of a very strong El Niño developing, with Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures reaching their highest levels since at least 1982. If realised, it could become the strongest El Niño event recorded since 1950. El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern…