Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that Pakistan is facilitating the repatriation of 30 Iranian nationals who are expected to transit through Karachi in the coming days. In a post on X, Dar said Pakistan was “pleased to facilitate the repatriation” of the individuals, which include 8 Iranian fishermen rescued at sea by the British vessel MMA Valour after their boat ran aground, and 22 Iranian crew members from the vessel Lenore/Davina, who were recently intercepted by US authorities. He said both groups are expected to transit through Karachi before returning to Iran, adding that…

NEW DELHI: Messaging platform Telegram has filed a petition in court challenging an Indian government order temporarily blocking access to the app, according to a report by legal news website Bar and Bench. The restriction, which came into effect on Tuesday and is set to remain in place until June 22, was imposed as part of efforts to prevent alleged cheating in medical entrance examinations, including suspected use of online platforms to facilitate exam fraud. According to the report, the legal challenge contests the government’s decision to restrict access to the platform during the enforcement period. Telegram did not immediately…

LOS ANGELES: Singer Ariana Grande marked the 13th birthday of her pet dog Toulouse with a personal social media post, describing him as her “love of my life.” Grande shared the message on Instagram Stories on Tuesday, accompanied by photographs of the Beagle-Chihuahua mix. She expressed affection and gratitude toward her long-time pet, writing that she loved him “every second of every day.” The post highlighted Toulouse’s role in Grande’s personal life and touring routine. Images shared by the singer showed the dog backstage during her ongoing The Eternal Sunshine Tour, including moments where he appeared on stage screens and…

WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: A proposed $300 billion private investment fund aimed at stimulating reconstruction and development in Iran is included in the emerging US–Iran framework agreement, according to a source cited by Reuters with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The fund is designed as an economic incentive to support a broader political settlement between Washington and Tehran, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plan has not yet been formally announced. According to the report, more than half of the proposed funding has already been committed through private investors across multiple regions, including the United States, Gulf…

BOSTON / FOXBOROUGH: Midfielder Zidane Iqbal has become the first player of Pakistani heritage to appear in a men’s FIFA World Cup match, after coming on as a substitute for Iraq in their Group I fixture against Norway on Monday. Iqbal entered the match in the 59th minute during Iraq’s 4-1 defeat at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Norway forward Erling Haaland scored twice as the European side secured a dominant win on his World Cup debut. Iqbal, who previously played for Manchester United, has a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, and is eligible to represent both nations through his…

LOS ANGELES: Actor and filmmaker Angelina Jolie is set to appear in the upcoming drama Couture, a film centred on a filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer while working in Europe, according to promotional remarks and interviews related to the project. The Oscar-winning actress said the role carried personal significance due to her family history, including the death of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who battled ovarian and breast cancer. Jolie described Couture as a story about women from different countries facing life-threatening illness and emotional hardship, and said the film focuses on shared human experiences and mutual support during difficult periods.…

WASHINGTON: Artificial intelligence tool Grok, developed by Grok, has been referenced in US military-related operations, according to a legal briefing cited by AFP and filed in a US court on June 15. The Department of Justice said in the filing that ongoing litigation against xAI could affect infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence systems allegedly used in national security applications, including those linked to defence operations. The brief stated that the lawsuit over gas turbines powering an xAI data centre “threatens American national, economic, and energy security” by potentially disrupting AI systems supporting military functions. According to testimony from Pentagon AI chief…

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has presented Pakistan’s third federal budget, outlining tax relief measures for salaried individuals, exporters, and real estate while setting a significantly higher revenue collection target under ongoing IMF programme conditions. The budget arrives roughly two-thirds into the country’s current International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, with authorities projecting 4% economic growth for FY2026–27 and inflation assumptions of around 8.2%. Under the proposed measures, income tax slabs for salaried individuals have been revised, including an increase in the threshold for the highest 35% tax rate from Rs4.1 million to Rs7 million. A 9% surcharge on income…

ISLAMABAD / NAIROBI: Pakistani crew members aboard the hijacked vessel MT Honour 25 have called for urgent government intervention after a newly released video showed their worsening conditions in captivity off Somalia’s Puntland coast. The vessel was seized on April 21 by pirates near Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, with 17 crew members on board, including 10 Pakistani nationals. Families of the hostages say the situation has deteriorated over nearly two months of captivity. In a video message, second officer Syed Kashif Umar said the Pakistani crew had been held for 57 days, citing shortages of food and illness among some…

DUBAI / WASHINGTON: Tankers carrying Iranian crude oil have exited the Strait of Hormuz after months of reported restrictions, according to tanker tracking data, as diplomatic momentum builds toward a US-Iran peace agreement scheduled for signing in Switzerland this week. TankerTrackers, a shipping intelligence platform, said two National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) vessels—Diona and Hero2—transporting an estimated 3.8 million barrels of crude oil had left what it described as a US Navy monitoring perimeter. A third tanker was later reported to have followed. The development comes ahead of planned negotiations on Friday at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland, where the…