Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that an initial peace agreement between the United States and Iran is expected to be finalised within the next 24 hours, with Pakistan preparing for an electronic signing of the deal. In a statement posted on X, the prime minister said negotiations had reached their final stage and expressed optimism that the agreement would pave the way for lasting peace in the region. He added that technical-level talks are expected to follow next week. According to Sharif, the proposed agreement would mark a significant step towards ending months of tensions between Washington…

KANSAS CITY: Two men have been charged in connection with the theft of England football team training equipment worth around $18,000 ahead of the squad’s arrival at their World Cup training base, US authorities said on Saturday. Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson’s office said Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property under Missouri law. If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison. The alleged theft involved equipment taken from vehicles transporting England’s kit from a training camp in Florida to Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, where the…

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has alleged that external elements are financing a proscribed organisation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that investigations point to foreign-based individuals, including members of the Pakistani diaspora in the United Kingdom. Speaking on a television programme, Sanaullah said the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had received external funding and rejected multiple government attempts to resolve disputes through dialogue and political mechanisms. The AJK administration had earlier declared JAAC a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing alleged involvement in unlawful activities ahead of planned protests…

NEW YORK: Taylor Swift used her induction speech at the Songwriters Hall of Fame to highlight emerging artist Sombr and address ongoing debates around artificial intelligence in music on Saturday. Swift praised the young singer-songwriter after he performed covers of her songs Dear John and Cardigan, describing his songwriting as “exceptional” and saying she felt “envious” of his talent. “He’s going to be the top of my Spotify Wrapped this year, guaranteed,” Swift told the audience, adding that she admired his work and artistic independence. During her speech, Swift also referenced industry discussions about artificial intelligence, saying she often tells…

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY: Brazil national football team were held to a 1–1 draw by Morocco national football team in their opening World Cup Group C match on Saturday at a sold-out stadium in the New York/New Jersey area. Ismael Saibari gave Morocco a first-half lead after capitalising on a defensive error, before Vinícius Júnior equalised with a long-range strike to bring Brazil level. Morocco started strongly, controlling possession and creating early chances through wide play, while Brazil struggled to maintain defensive organisation and were repeatedly exposed on the counter-attack. Brazil equalised in the 32nd minute when Vinícius Júnior cut inside…

Herat, Afghanistan: Olivia Rodrigo performed her newly released single Stupid Song live for the first time during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, hours before the release of her third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. The performance aired during Rodrigo’s second consecutive night on the programme as part of promotional activities surrounding the album’s launch. The new record marks the singer’s third solo studio album, following the commercial success of SOUR and GUTS. Stupid Song, the album’s lead single, was featured as the centerpiece of the performance. The track has been described as…

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, though Iranian officials said no final agreement had been reached. Trump said the agreement, if finalised, would mark a major breakthrough aimed at ending a three-month conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets. “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the deal could be signed “very soon, maybe over the weekend…

HERAT: A group of United Nations human rights experts has condemned a recent crackdown on women in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat, saying at least two people were killed and more than 20 injured during protests against new restrictions. According to the experts, Herat’s morality police began arresting dozens of women on Saturday for allegedly failing to comply with strict dress code requirements, including not wearing the chador or burqa. The situation escalated on Tuesday when a protest against the detentions was dispersed by force. A boy was reportedly shot dead during the incident, while witnesses told AFP that security…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government is set to present the Budget 2026–27 in the National Assembly today, with an estimated total outlay of around Rs17.5 trillion, according to official and media reports. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will present the budget, which outlines the government’s fiscal priorities, revenue measures, and expenditure plans for the upcoming financial year. The budget comes at a time of continued economic stabilization efforts under an IMF-supported programme, with tight fiscal space expected to shape spending decisions and tax policy. Key areas of focus are likely to include revenue generation, debt servicing pressures, and development spending allocations, alongside…

GILGIT: Delegations of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) held talks in Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday to discuss arrangements for forming the next regional government following recent legislative elections. According to party statements, the PPP—having secured 11 seats in the 24-member Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly on the basis of unofficial results—has emerged as the largest party and is positioned to form the government. The PML-N won six seats, while candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured two seats. The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) won one seat, and independent candidates claimed four seats. Both parties confirmed that detailed consultations were…