Author: EchoAsiaNews

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, the 18-year-old daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally remove “Pitt” from her surname. The petition seeks to change her legal name from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. Court documents list the reason for the request as “personal,” with a hearing scheduled for November 2. Vivienne was previously credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for the Broadway production The Outsiders, where she worked alongside her mother, Angelina Jolie. Have other Jolie-Pitt children also dropped the Pitt surname? Yes. Vivienne is the latest…

At least nine workers were killed and 15 others remain trapped after a tunnel collapsed at an under-construction hydropower project in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim, officials said on Tuesday. The collapse occurred on Monday during construction of a tunnel for a state-run hydroelectric project on the Teesta River. How many people were inside the tunnel? According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, an estimated 25 to 27 workers were inside the tunnel when it collapsed. Authorities have so far recovered nine bodies, while rescue teams continue efforts to reach those still trapped. What caused the collapse? Officials said…

Authorities in Guyana have recovered 27 bodies after a passenger ferry capsized off the country’s coast, prompting an investigation into possible negligence by the vessel’s crew. The MV Barima overturned on Saturday night while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma with 179 people believed to be on board. How many people are affected? Officials said 69 people have been rescued, while 83 remain missing as search and recovery operations continue. The disaster is being described by authorities as Guyana’s worst marine accident in decades. Why is the crew under investigation? Police have detained the ferry’s captain and at least one…

Protests entered a fifth consecutive day in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as demonstrators voiced opposition to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to dismiss the country’s defence minister. The demonstrations reflect growing public concern over recent changes in Ukraine’s defence leadership amid the ongoing war with Russia. What triggered the demonstrations? The protests were sparked by President Zelenskyy’s decision to remove the defence minister, a move that has drawn criticism from sections of the public and civil society. Demonstrators have questioned the timing of the leadership change as Ukraine continues to face military challenges in its conflict with Russia. How significant are the…

Pakistan has purchased its seventh spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo since QatarEnergy declared force majeure earlier this year, accepting a bid of $21.88 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) for delivery later this month. The cargo was awarded by Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) to TotalEnergies Gas and Power Limited after the company submitted the only bid in the latest international tender. Why is Pakistan buying expensive spot LNG? Pakistan has increasingly relied on the spot LNG market following supply disruptions under its long-term contract with QatarEnergy. The disruptions began after QatarEnergy declared force majeure on March 4, 2026, following…

US President Donald Trump has announced new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian imports, citing what the administration described as discriminatory treatment of US products by Canada. According to the White House, the tariffs will take effect in 30 days and will apply to products including wine, hockey sticks, cement and other selected goods. Why is the US imposing the tariffs? The Trump administration said the measures respond to Canada’s policies affecting US alcohol, dairy and automobile exports. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada had removed US alcoholic beverages from store shelves, limited market access for certain American…

China and the Philippines exchanged accusations on Tuesday after a confrontation between their vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal left a Philippine sailor injured. The incident occurred on Monday near the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine naval vessel that serves as a military outpost in the South China Sea. What does the Philippines say happened? The Philippine military said a Chinese Coast Guard vessel approached and harassed Philippine personnel stationed near the outpost. According to Manila, a Philippine sailor sustained head injuries after being struck with a wooden baton during the confrontation. How has China responded? China’s Coast…

An internal Israeli government document obtained by Al Jazeera indicates that Israeli authorities compiled information on more than 150 international charities in 2013, including assessments of their perceived positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict and alleged links to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The document, described as a government spreadsheet, included organisational details such as contact information, leadership and areas of work, alongside comments characterising some NGOs as critics of Israel or supporters of BDS. Which organisations were mentioned? The document included references to several international humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, Defence for Children International, Mundubat, Norwegian Refugee Council, World…

Displaced residents have begun returning to villages in southern Lebanon after Lebanon, Israel and the United States announced the start of a US-brokered “pilot zone” initiative aimed at transferring control of selected areas to the Lebanese government. The Lebanese Army confirmed on Tuesday that it had deployed troops to Zawtar el-Gharbiya, one of three locations included in the first phase of the plan. What is the ‘pilot zone’ plan? The pilot zone initiative forms part of a framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in Washington last month. Under the agreement, Israel is expected to withdraw from selected areas in…

Authorities in Afghanistan’s southwestern Nimroz province are searching for 14 missing migrants after five others died from extreme heat while attempting to cross into neighbouring Iran, police said on Monday. The group had departed more than a week ago through the desert region, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C. How did the incident occur? According to Nimroz police, the migrants’ vehicle became stranded after breaking down during a dust storm. Police spokesperson Gul Mohammad Qudrat said the driver left the vehicle in search of assistance but became lost in the desert. He was later found by security forces suffering from…