Author: EchoAsiaNews

WASHINGTON: US Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican lawmaker and close ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” A statement released by Graham’s office said he died on the evening of Saturday, 11 July. His family requested privacy and thanked the public for its prayers and support during the difficult time. Who was Lindsey Graham? Graham represented South Carolina in the US Senate since 2003 and was one of the Republican Party’s most influential voices on foreign policy and national security. He previously served…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have killed more than 65 militants during the ongoing Operation Shaban in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed since the operation began on 5 July to 105, according to security sources. The joint operation, involving the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police, was launched following the attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat. What is Operation Shaban? Operation Shaban is a joint counterterrorism operation launched by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Balochistan Police following the militant attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat. According to security sources,…

Tehran accuses Washington of violating the ceasefire memorandum while President Donald Trump says the truce has ended despite agreeing to further negotiations. TEHRAN: Iran said on Saturday it has continued to comply with its ceasefire commitments with the United States, rejecting President Donald Trump’s assertion that the truce is over while reaffirming its support for diplomacy. The exchange marks a further deterioration in relations after both sides traded strikes earlier this week, raising concerns over the future of a fragile ceasefire aimed at ending months of conflict. What did Trump say about the ceasefire? In a post on his Truth…

The two countries agree to deepen cooperation in defence, trade and the Indo-Pacific as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his first visit to New Zealand in four decades. AUCKLAND: New Zealand and India on Saturday announced a new strategic partnership covering defence, security, trade and diplomatic cooperation during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to New Zealand in 40 years. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed Modi with a traditional Māori ceremony and a guard of honour in Auckland. The visit follows the signing of a free trade agreement in April, which the New Zealand government says will strengthen…

Authorities evacuate hundreds of thousands, suspend transport and issue emergency warnings as Typhoon Bavi approaches China’s eastern coast after battering Japan’s southern islands and skirting northern Taiwan. WENZHOU: Chinese authorities evacuated more than 600,000 people on Saturday as Typhoon Bavi approached the eastern coastal city of Wenzhou after bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Japan’s southern Sakishima Islands and passing north of Taiwan. The typhoon, though gradually weakening over cooler waters, remained a significant threat due to the large volume of moisture it carried. Forecasters said Bavi was expected to make landfall near Wenzhou, a city of about 10…

Norway coach Stale Solbakken says the battle between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane could prove decisive as both sides prepare for a high-stakes World Cup quarter-final in Miami. MIAMI: Norway head coach Stale Solbakken said the contest between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane could play a key role when Norway face England in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Why is the Haaland-Kane battle attracting attention? Solbakken described both forwards as their teams’ primary match-winners but emphasized that the game would ultimately be decided by collective performance. “I think it’s Norway versus England but I don’t think it is…

Operation Shaban continues across Balochistan following the Ziarat police station attack, with Pakistani authorities saying coordinated military operations have killed dozens of militants amid a broader counterterrorism campaign. ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed nine more militants during ongoing counterterrorism operations in Balochistan, bringing the total number of militants killed since July 5 to 88, according to Pakistani security officials. The latest operation was conducted under Operation Shaban, launched after the attack on the Mangi Dam police station in Ziarat. The campaign is being carried out jointly by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps (FC), and Balochistan Police. What happened during the…

Powerful storm forces flight cancellations, evacuations and emergency preparations as Japan, Taiwan and eastern China brace for heavy rain, landslides and coastal damage. ISHIGAKI: A powerful typhoon bore down on Japan’s southwestern islands on Friday, triggering widespread emergency measures as authorities warned that destructive winds, torrential rain, flooding and landslides could make Typhoon Bavi one of the region’s most damaging storms in years. The storm was approaching Japan’s Sakishima Islands, near Taiwan, with maximum sustained winds of 162 kilometres per hour (100 mph), prompting residents to secure homes and businesses while airlines cancelled dozens of flights across the region. How…

Police launch homicide investigation after child is found unconscious in tuition centre washroom, while forensic and post-mortem reports are awaited to determine the cause of death. LAHORE: Police have registered a murder case after a 10-year-old girl was found dead inside the bathroom of a private tuition centre in Lahore’s Ichhra area, prompting a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. The case was filed on the complaint of the victim’s father, Muhammad Adnan, while investigators said the exact cause of death would only be established after post-mortem and forensic examinations are completed. How was the child found? According…

South Korean chipmaker’s blockbuster Nasdaq debut underscores surging global investor demand for artificial intelligence as AI-driven semiconductor boom accelerates. SEOUL: South Korean semiconductor giant SK Hynix has raised $26.5 billion through its New York stock market debut, completing the largest-ever US share offering by a foreign company and reinforcing investor confidence in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor industry. The company announced on Thursday that it sold 177.9 million American Depositary Shares (ADSs) at $149 per share, with trading scheduled to begin on the Nasdaq on Friday. Each ADS represents one-tenth of a common share listed in Seoul. Why…