Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has warned against the “weaponisation of water,” urging the international community to uphold international water-sharing agreements amid renewed concerns over the future of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Speaking at a seminar on the treaty’s role in promoting regional peace, senior Pakistani officials said shared water resources should remain a means of cooperation rather than political pressure, stressing that unilateral actions threaten regional stability. Why did Pakistan issue the warning? Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said no country should use water as a political tool, describing the Indus Waters Treaty as a legally binding international…

WASHINGTON: The United States has lifted export restrictions on advanced artificial intelligence models developed by Anthropic, allowing the company to restore foreign access to its Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. Anthropic announced late Tuesday that access to the two AI models would begin resuming from Thursday after the US Department of Commerce informed the company that export controls had been removed. Why were the restrictions lifted? According to Anthropic, the US Department of Commerce withdrew the restrictions after the company agreed to strengthen safeguards for its advanced AI systems. In a letter circulated online, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick…

BRUSSELS: The world’s oceans recorded their warmest June on record this year, with sea surface temperatures reaching unprecedented levels as climate change and the developing El Niño weather pattern continued to drive global warming, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Marine Service. In a report released on Wednesday, the agency said the global average sea surface temperature reached 21.0 degrees Celsius (69.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in June, surpassing previous records set during the same month in 2023 and 2024. What did the report find? The Copernicus Marine Service said the first six months of 2026 were marked by persistently elevated sea…

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had killed four Hamas fighters in strikes carried out in the northern Gaza Strip over the past week. In a statement, the Israeli Army said the four belonged to Hamas’ military wing and included two anti-tank operatives, a platoon commander and a sniper. It identified them as Wael Mahmoud Ali Labad, Muaz Mohammad Hassan Ahmad, Sameh Abu Kamil and Akram Ashraf Hamad Labad. The military said the strikes targeted militants allegedly involved in attacks against Israeli troops operating in Gaza. It added that Israeli forces also struck Hamas launch sites and launchers…

SINGAPORE: Asian airlines are losing the temporary boost they enjoyed on Europe-bound routes as Gulf carriers restore operations following disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, according to industry data. Data cited by Reuters showed that Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have resumed around 90% of their normal flight schedules after operations were disrupted when Gulf airspace was affected by regional hostilities. Passenger traffic data also indicated that the initial surge in non-stop travel between Asia and Europe has eased as Gulf airlines return to the market with increased capacity and lower fares. Industry figures showed Middle Eastern airlines significantly…

WASHINGTON: Democrats in the US House of Representatives remain divided over a proposal to cut $3.3 billion in assistance to Israel ahead of a vote expected later this week. According to US media reports, Democratic leaders have allowed lawmakers to vote according to their own judgement after internal disagreements emerged during party discussions. Progressive lawmakers, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib, have backed the proposal, while several centrist Democrats have voiced opposition. Representative Greg Meeks said he opposed the measure, arguing Israel should continue receiving support. Representative Adam Smith also rejected the proposal, saying it would reduce both humanitarian and…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Wednesday that it had shot down four drones allegedly launched by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border, accusing Kabul of supporting militant groups involved in cross-border attacks. In a statement, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said Pakistan’s air defence system detected and intercepted all four drones before they could reach their intended targets. What did the military say? According to the ISPR, the drones were “rudimentary” aerial platforms allegedly launched by the Afghan Taliban as part of what it described as support for terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory. The…

LAHORE: At least 14 children were killed and several others injured after the roof of a tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area on Tuesday, officials said. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said 19 children were shifted to Kahna Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital following the incident. He confirmed that 14 children died, while two children were discharged after receiving treatment and four others remained under medical care. How did the incident occur? According to police, construction work was underway on the upper floor of the building while children were attending classes on the ground floor when the roof collapsed.…

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reported more than $1.4 billion in income from cryptocurrency-related ventures in his 2025 financial disclosure, highlighting the growing role of digital assets in his business portfolio. The annual filing with the US Office of Government Ethics shows that crypto-related businesses generated the largest share of Trump’s reported income during the year, alongside earnings from real estate, licensing deals and legal settlements. How much did Trump earn from cryptocurrency? According to the disclosure, Trump’s companies received nearly $800 million from World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture co-founded by Trump and his sons. The reported income included…

MEXICO CITY: Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory with a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Tuesday, securing a place in the Round of 16 as co-hosts continued their tournament campaign. First-half goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez sealed the victory before more than 80,000 fans at Estadio Azteca. How did Mexico secure victory? Kick-off was delayed by an hour because of thunderstorms, but Mexico made a strong start once play began. Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after collecting a through ball from Roberto Alvarado before beating defender Willian Pacho and…