Author: EchoAsiaNews

17 June 2026 — Day 108 A fragile but potentially historic agreement between the United States and Iran is moving toward formal signing, with a ceremony expected in Geneva on Friday. President Donald Trump announced the deal, describing it as a “great deal,” capping months of open conflict that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and government infrastructure in late February 2026. The emerging memorandum of understanding would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, lift the US blockade, extend the ceasefire for 60 days, including in Lebanon, and leave detailed nuclear negotiations for a second stage,…

Remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting that Israel’s planned military action influenced Washington’s decision to strike Iran have triggered debate in political circles despite subsequent denials from the White House. Rubio told reporters that US officials were aware Israel was preparing to launch an attack on Iran and believed Tehran would retaliate against American forces in the region. He said Washington therefore carried out pre-emptive strikes to avoid higher casualties among US troops. “We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action,” Rubio said, arguing that if the United States had waited for Iran to…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliamentarians that Iran has agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons, while the United States is pushing for the complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear programme. Speaking during a briefing in the Senate, Dar said he had conveyed Iran’s position during discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing that Tehran had committed to not building nuclear arms but wanted to maintain its peaceful nuclear programme. The deputy premier added that Pakistan supports Iran’s right to pursue civilian nuclear energy within international frameworks, while advocating diplomacy to ease tensions in the region.…

Global financial markets fell sharply on Tuesday, with equity indexes across Asia and futures in the United States sliding, as escalating geopolitical tensions stemming from the US‑Israel military campaign against Iran heightened fears of economic disruption and inflationary pressure, Reuters reported. The broad MSCI Asia‑Pacific index dropped nearly 3%, led by a 7.2% plunge in Korean stocks and a 3.1% decline in Japan’s Nikkei 225, while S&P 500 e‑mini futures were down about 0.9%. Analysts said rising crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices linked to the conflict’s impact on energy supply were weighing heavily on investor sentiment. Brent crude…

The French government announced plans to significantly bolster its nuclear arsenal and involve European allies more closely in nuclear deterrence efforts amid rising global tensions, Geo News reported. President Emmanuel Macron’s administration said the move reflects changing security dynamics in Europe and threats posed by geopolitical instability, particularly in the wake of the ongoing Middle East conflict and Russia’s continued assertiveness in eastern Europe. Under the initiative, France will increase the size and capability of its nuclear forces, invest in modernising delivery systems, and expand bilateral cooperation with European partners on nuclear strategy and deterrence planning, according to defence officials.…

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday accused what he described as a “Zionist agenda” of seeking to extend Israeli influence to Pakistan’s borders amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, Geo News reported. In a post on social media platform X, Asif claimed that the conflict had been imposed despite Tehran’s willingness to pursue an agreement, and suggested that its underlying objective was to encircle Pakistan strategically. Asif told Pakistanis, regardless of political or religious affiliation, to recognise what he termed a coordinated regional conspiracy that he said threatened Pakistan’s sovereignty. He characterised Zionism as a longstanding threat,…

As Nepal prepares for its March 5 general election, the country faces a pivotal political moment in the wake of widespread Generation Z‑led protests that toppled the previous government last year, raising questions about whether young voters will again support established parties that dominated politics for decades. Last year’s mass demonstrations, driven by youth frustrations over corruption, joblessness and political elitism, forced the resignation of then‑Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and dissolved parliament, precipitating early polls. The protests reflected deep disenchantment with Nepal’s traditional political class and set the stage for what analysts describe as a generational reckoning at the…

The United States and Israel have carried out a new wave of military strikes against Iran, targeting key command infrastructure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran, including a central IRGC command centre, according to US military statements and regional media reports. The strikes form part of a rapidly escalating conflict after joint US‑Israeli operations over the weekend triggered widespread retaliation by Iranian forces across the Middle East. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed air defence installations, IRGC command and control nodes, missile launch sites and other strategic targets, asserting that the elite Revolutionary Guard’s…

The U.S. House Oversight Committee on Monday released video recordings of closed‑door depositions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of its ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network, CNN reported. The depositions, conducted last week in Chappaqua, New York, were recorded after both were subpoenaed in the Republican‑led inquiry into Epstein’s activities and high‑profile associations. In the footage, Bill Clinton answered roughly four and a half hours of questions from lawmakers, addressing his past interactions with Epstein while maintaining that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct.…

Paramount Global’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery is expected to receive approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), according to reports by the Financial Times cited by Reuters. The merger, which would combine two of the largest studios in Hollywood, has been under intense regulatory scrutiny over concerns about competition in broadcasting, cable, and streaming markets. FCC backing would mark a major milestone in the approval process, which also requires clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal regulators. The agencies are evaluating potential impacts on media diversity, consumer choice, and market competition, particularly in…