Author: EchoAsiaNews

More than 5,000 ISIL-linked detainees have been moved from jails in northeastern Syria to a prison in Iraq, the Iraqi Ministry of Justice has said. Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told the Iraqi News Agency on Friday that the transfers and continued detention of the prisoners were carried out at the request of the U.S.-led international coalition combating ISIL, of which Iraq is a key member. Laibi said that of the 5,064 detainees transferred so far, more than 3,000 are Syrian nationals and at least 270 are Iraqi citizens. He added that all of the detainees are being held in a…

China’s ByteDance Ltd is in advanced negotiations to sell its gaming subsidiary, Shanghai Moonton Technology, in a deal that sources familiar with the matter say could be worth between $6 billion and $7 billion. Moonton, the Shanghai-based studio behind the massively popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, was acquired by ByteDance in 2021 for about $4 billion. The potential sale marks a significant shift in ByteDance’s strategy as the company downsizes its gaming operations following a broader restructuring announced in 2023. The prospective buyer is Savvy Games Group, a Saudi Arabia–based gaming and esports company backed by the Public…

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Rana Sanaullah on Friday said that if it were proven that medical treatment had been deliberately denied to incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, it would amount to criminal negligence and would be indefensible. Speaking on the Senate floor, Sanaullah, who also serves as the prime minister’s adviser on public and political affairs, addressed concerns raised by the opposition regarding Khan’s health, particularly an eye condition that recently came to light. His remarks follow the submission of a seven-page medical report to the Supreme Court by PTI counsel Salman Safdar after a three-hour meeting…

Global pop star Zayn Malik has revealed that he was far from a natural talent when he first started singing, admitting in a recent podcast interview that he “was really rubbish” as a child. Speaking ahead of his upcoming fifth solo album, the former One Direction member appeared on the Call Her Daddy, hosted by Alex Cooper, where he reflected candidly on his early musical journey. When asked how he copes with being a beginner despite his global success, Malik said he actively seeks out new challenges. He explained that he enjoys the early stages of learning something new, even…

China’s biotechnology sector is on track for a record year in outbound licensing deals in 2026, as global pharmaceutical companies race to secure rights to promising Chinese-developed drugs, according to industry data and analysts. The total disclosed value of licensing-out deals from the greater China region surged to $137.7 billion in 2025, nearly ten times the level recorded in 2021, data from healthcare analytics firm Pharmcube showed. Analysts expect deal value to climb further this year as the country’s experimental drug pipeline continues to expand. As of early 2026, dozens of outbound licensing agreements have already been announced, with average…

Pakistan’s top leadership on Friday congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on securing a commanding victory in Bangladesh’s general elections, expressing readiness to deepen bilateral engagement after years of strained ties. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended “warmest felicitations” to Tarique Rahman for leading the BNP to what he described as a resounding parliamentary victory. He also congratulated the Bangladeshi electorate on the conduct of the polls, saying Islamabad looked forward to working closely with the new leadership to strengthen “historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations” and promote peace and development in South Asia. President Asif Ali Zardari similarly conveyed his congratulations…

France‑backed satellite operator Eutelsat Communications on Friday reported better‑than‑expected revenue for the first half of its 2025‑26 fiscal year, reflecting progress in its strategic pivot toward satellite internet services aimed at challenging Elon Musk’s Starlink network. Eutelsat posted revenue of €592 million ($702 million) for the six months ended December, topping analyst forecasts of about €581 million and driven by growth in its low Earth orbit (LEO) internet business under the OneWeb division. While the company remained loss‑making, it cut operating losses by roughly 85 per cent and slashed its net debt by more than half following a €1.5 billion rescue led by the French state…

Norway’s former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland has been formally named a suspect in an aggravated corruption investigation linked to his ties with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, authorities confirmed Friday, marking a major escalation in a scandal that has engulfed parts of the Norwegian elite. Norway’s specialised economic crimes unit, Okokrim, said it is probing whether Jagland, who served as prime minister in 1996‑97, later chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee and was secretary‑general of the Council of Europe, accepted undue benefits, including gifts, travel or loans, in connection with his official positions during the period covered by the…

As rain-bearing clouds hover over Colombo with showers expected Sunday evening, Pakistan are monitoring conditions closely ahead of their highly anticipated T20 World Cup clash against arch-rivals India, according to The News. The likelihood of a rain-affected match has prompted team management to consider tactical adjustments, with weather conditions potentially shaping the final playing XI. Well-placed sources have indicated that Pakistan may strengthen their pace attack if overcast and damp conditions persist. Express pacer Naseem Shah and left-arm quick Salman Mirza, who missed the match against the USA, are in contention to exploit any assistance offered by a moist pitch.…

The United States and Taiwan have finalized a major trade agreement designed to cut tariffs and expand bilateral economic ties. Under the deal, the U.S. will set a 15 % tariff on imports from Taiwan, down from about 20 % previously, aligning Taiwanese exports with terms offered to other major Asian partners. Taiwan has agreed to gradually eliminate or reduce tariffs on nearly all U.S. goods, including agricultural products and industrial equipment. The agreement also commits Taiwan to boost purchases of American products from 2025 to 2029, including $44.4 billion in liquefied natural gas and crude oil, $15.2 billion in civil aircraft and engines,…