Author: EchoAsiaNews

New Zealand domestic cricketer Brett Randell has created history by becoming the first player in 254 years of first-class cricket to take five wickets in five consecutive deliveries. Randell achieved the remarkable feat while playing for Central Districts against Northern Districts during a Plunket Shield four-day match at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday. The right-arm seamer began his record-breaking spell by bowling Henry Cooper with the final ball of his second over. He then dismissed former New Zealand Test batsman Jeet Raval at the start of his next over before claiming three more wickets with successive deliveries. Randell’s historic…

India will attempt to become the first team to retain the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup when they face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. More than 100,000 spectators are expected at the world’s largest cricket stadium as host nation India aim to defend the title they won in 2024, while New Zealand pursue their first global white-ball championship. India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, reached the final after defeating England in the semi-final and have remained one of the most consistent teams in international tournaments. Despite a campaign that has not been…

Pakistan’s security forces have neutralised 13 India-backed terrorists during five separate intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Sunday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the high-tempo operations were carried out overnight on March 6 and 7 as part of an ongoing counter-terrorism campaign across the province. In one intelligence-based operation in Bajaur district, security forces engaged a terrorist hideout and killed five militants after an intense exchange of fire. Separate encounters in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan resulted in the killing of three terrorists, the statement said. Meanwhile, two additional engagements in Khyber district…

Mercedes driver George Russell won the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday, claiming victory in the opening race of the 2026 season and leading a dominant one-two finish for the team. Russell delivered a commanding performance at the Albert Park circuit, finishing ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place on the podium. The race featured an early battle between Russell and Leclerc for the lead before Mercedes gained a decisive advantage during a virtual safety car period, allowing the team to make a strategic pit stop and switch tyres. Seven-time world…

Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip are risking their lives by venturing into Israeli-controlled waters as the territory’s fishing industry collapses under the impact of war and a long-standing maritime blockade. Along the coast near Khan Younis, fishermen continue to take small boats into the sea despite the threat of Israeli naval patrols and limited fishing zones, hoping to catch enough fish to feed their families or sell in local markets. The ongoing conflict and restrictions have severely damaged Gaza’s fishing sector, once a key source of income for thousands of Palestinians. Many fishing boats and port facilities have been…

A Pakistani national was killed in Dubai after debris from an aerial interception struck his vehicle, marking the second Pakistani death in the United Arab Emirates since the escalation of the Middle East conflict. According to Dubai authorities, the incident occurred in the Al Barsha area on Saturday evening when fragments from an intercepted missile or drone fell onto a car, killing the Pakistani driver. Emergency teams responded to the scene and secured the area following the incident. Officials said the debris resulted from air defence systems intercepting incoming aerial threats amid heightened regional tensions linked to the ongoing confrontation…

Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has urged the country’s arms industry to accelerate weapons production, warning that the worsening global security environment requires faster military preparedness. Crosetto made the call during an emergency videoconference attended by around 130 participants, including defence industry executives and Chief of Defence Staff General Luciano Portolano. During the meeting, the minister asked companies to identify operational capabilities, near-completion programmes, and initiatives that could rapidly strengthen Italy’s defence systems, particularly in the area of air defence. Crosetto stressed the need to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that could slow defence production, saying urgent security needs require faster coordination…

The head of robotics at OpenAI has resigned following the company’s recent agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, citing concerns about how the technology could be used. Caitlin Kalinowski, who led OpenAI’s robotics and consumer hardware division, announced her resignation after the company signed a deal to deploy its artificial intelligence models on classified Pentagon cloud networks. In posts on social media, Kalinowski said the decision to move forward with the agreement had been made too quickly and raised ethical issues regarding the potential use of AI in surveillance and autonomous weapons systems. She noted that technologies capable of…

United States President Donald Trump said the United States does not need support from the United Kingdom’s aircraft carriers in its ongoing war with Iran, signaling tensions between the longtime allies. Trump made the remarks on social media after reports that Britain was considering sending two aircraft carriers, including HMS Prince of Wales, to the Middle East amid escalating conflict in the region. In his post, Trump said the United States had already gained the upper hand in the conflict and dismissed the potential deployment of British naval forces. He added that Washington did not need partners “that join wars…

Saudi Arabia has warned Iran not to launch attacks against the kingdom, cautioning that any such action could trigger retaliation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The warning was reportedly conveyed during diplomatic communication between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart. Saudi officials emphasized that while Riyadh supports diplomatic solutions to regional tensions, it would respond if Iranian strikes targeted Saudi territory or critical infrastructure. The message comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran against targets across the Gulf region. Several countries hosting U.S.…