Author: EchoAsiaNews

EAST RUTHERFORD: US President Donald Trump drew widespread attention during the FIFA World Cup trophy presentation after remaining on stage briefly as Spain celebrated its victory over Argentina in the 2026 final. Trump joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino in presenting the World Cup trophy to the Spanish team following the match at New York New Jersey Stadium. What happened during the trophy presentation? After handing over the trophy, Trump remained on the presentation stage for several moments while Spain’s players celebrated with the World Cup trophy. Video footage showed FIFA President Gianni Infantino appearing to encourage Trump to leave the…

ISLAMABAD: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand arrived in Islamabad on Monday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, marking the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received Anand upon her arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What is the purpose of the visit? According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Anand is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The two sides are expected to hold bilateral talks covering the full spectrum of Pakistan-Canada relations, including trade, investment, education and…

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States launched a ninth consecutive night of military strikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure and coastal defence sites, as fighting between the two countries continued to intensify across the Middle East. The latest attacks came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the death of a US service member in Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance recovered from a downed Iranian drone. What did the US target? CENTCOM said the latest operation struck Iranian military command centres, air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and communications networks. The US military…

LONDON: Television presenter Holly Willoughby has announced the launch of a new YouTube channel, marking her return to regular broadcasting following her departure from ITV’s This Morning in 2023. Willoughby revealed the title and logo of the new project, Holly Willoughby Together, in a post shared on Instagram, confirming that the show will launch soon. What has Holly Willoughby announced? Willoughby unveiled the branding for her new YouTube channel and directed followers to subscribe ahead of its launch. In her announcement, she shared the message: “Coming soon…” alongside a link to the channel, which welcomes viewers with a brief introduction…

WASHINGTON: A United States service member was killed in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of explosive material recovered from a downed Iranian attack drone, the US military said on Sunday. The incident marks the latest American casualty as hostilities between the United States and Iran continue to escalate across the Middle East. What happened? According to the US military, the service member was killed while conducting a controlled disposal operation involving unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone that had been brought down in northern Iraq. No additional details about the service member’s identity or the location of the incident…

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States launched a ninth consecutive day of military strikes against Iran on Monday, while Tehran reported that two oil tankers had exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns over maritime security and global energy supplies. The latest exchange comes as fighting between the two countries continues despite the collapse of an interim ceasefire agreement reached last month. What did the United States say? US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had begun a new wave of strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The command did not provide…

JOINT BASE ANDREWS: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his new Air Force One aircraft will undergo additional upgrades over the next month to enhance its capabilities following reports raising concerns about the jet’s security systems. Speaking to reporters after returning from the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, Trump said the aircraft would be sent for modifications to be “maxed out,” but did not provide further details about the planned upgrades. Why are the upgrades being made? Trump’s remarks follow reports that the retrofitted Boeing 747-8 lacks some of the advanced defensive systems installed on the…

NEW DELHI: Police in New Delhi detained protesters and used crowd-control measures on Monday as thousands of supporters of the youth-led “cockroach” movement attempted to march toward Parliament despite authorities denying permission for the demonstration. The protest took place near Jantar Mantar, a designated site for public demonstrations in central Delhi, on the opening day of Parliament’s monsoon session. What triggered the protest? The movement began after allegations of leaks in the national medical school entrance examination held in May, which affected more than two million students and forced a retest. Supporters have since expanded their demands to include action…

EAST RUTHERFORD: Spain’s Lamine Yamal shared an emotional embrace with Argentina captain Lionel Messi after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, a moment that quickly gained widespread attention across social media. Following the final whistle at New York New Jersey Stadium, Yamal approached Messi, who remained seated on the pitch after Argentina’s defeat, and embraced the veteran forward in a gesture widely viewed as a sign of mutual respect between two generations of football. What happened after the final? After Spain secured the World Cup title, 19-year-old Yamal walked over…

NEW JERSEY: Canadian pop star Justin Bieber and South Korean group BTS headlined the inaugural FIFA World Cup Final halftime show on Sunday, with a backstage interaction between Bieber and BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) drawing widespread attention on social media after the performance. The 11-minute halftime spectacle took place at MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, marking the tournament’s first-ever halftime entertainment show. What happened backstage? A video circulating online showed BTS member V greeting Justin Bieber immediately after the singer concluded his performance. The two artists exchanged a brief hug and congratulations…