Author: EchoAsiaNews

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday vowed to teach the United States “unforgettable lessons” as hostilities intensified and Washington confirmed its first military deaths since fighting resumed. In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Khamenei said recent US attacks had demonstrated the “worthlessness” of President Donald Trump’s commitments under the now-collapsed ceasefire agreement. “Now that the American enemy seeks to incite war and bear its most serious consequences, it should know that the dear Iranian nation and the axis of resistance have unforgettable lessons to offer it,” he said. The remarks came after US Central Command (Centcom)…

MIAMI: France forward Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history after scoring twice against England in the third-place playoff on Saturday, surpassing Lionel Messi’s career record with 22 tournament goals. Mbappe struck in the 48th and 66th minutes to take his World Cup tally to 22 goals, moving one ahead of Messi. However, his performance was not enough to prevent France from losing 6-4 after trailing 4-0 at halftime. How did Mbappe set the World Cup record? The France captain’s two goals against England took his career World Cup tally to 22, making him the…

WASHINGTON: The United States carried out an eighth consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, targeting military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities after two US service members were killed and another went missing following an Iranian attack in Jordan, US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday. Centcom said the strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, targeted Iranian coastal surveillance systems, air defence sites and other military assets used to support attacks on US personnel and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. “The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of…

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Friday urged Israel to stop settlement expansion and other measures in the occupied West Bank, warning that continued actions could undermine the possibility of a future Palestinian state. What did the EU say? An EU spokesperson called on Israel to halt the legalization of settlement outposts, land appropriation, demolitions, forced evictions, and other steps that the bloc said threaten the viability of a two-state solution. The statement followed Israel’s security cabinet approval of 1.3 billion shekels ($427.8 million) in funding for the establishment of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The EU said…

NEW YORK: Argentina captain Lionel Messi said his approach to football has helped him manage pressure and expectations ahead of the FIFA World Cup final. What did Messi say about the pressure? Speaking before the final, Messi said his early experiences playing football shaped his mindset and helped him focus on enjoying the game rather than fearing the pressure surrounding major matches. The Argentine forward said competition has always been part of his career, but maintaining his love for football has allowed him to perform at the highest level despite expectations from fans and media. Messi enters the final as…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has been handed a three-month suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after testing positive for a cannabis-related substance, the governing body said on Friday. Why was Nawaz suspended? The 32-year-old tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a metabolite of THC, the psychoactive component found in cannabis, following Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands on February 7. The substance is classified as a Substance of Abuse under the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The ICC said Nawaz admitted the violation and demonstrated that the substance was used outside competition and was not related to enhancing sporting performance.…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has conveyed to Iran that any Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia would be viewed as attacks against Pakistan itself, a Pakistani official told Reuters, as tensions rise following missile strikes on the Kingdom. What message did Pakistan send to Iran? A Pakistani official said the country’s senior civilian and military leadership had communicated to Tehran that attacks on Saudi Arabia would cross a red line for Islamabad. “Our top civil and military leaders have conveyed to Iran at the highest level that the attacks on Saudi Arabia are attacks on Pakistan,” the official said. The remarks come after…

TEHRAN: US airstrikes on Iran entered their seventh consecutive night, with Iranian officials reporting damage to energy infrastructure and a strike that disrupted water supplies in several villages in southern Hormuzgan province. What happened in the latest strikes? Iranian officials said US attacks targeted infrastructure sites, including bridges and energy facilities, as Washington continued its military campaign against Iranian positions. Authorities in Hormuzgan said one strike damaged desalination facilities and water infrastructure, cutting supplies to several towns and villages in the southern region. Iranian media reported explosions in multiple areas, including locations near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where both…

NEW YORK: The winners of the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will receive championship rings alongside the trophy and gold medals, marking the first time such awards will be introduced in the tournament’s history. What will the winners receive? FIFA said 30 specially designed rings will be presented to the winning team after Sunday’s final at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The team captain and head coach will initially receive temporary versions during the trophy ceremony, with the rings later customized according to the winning team’s identity and individually fitted before the official presentation. One side…

ISLAMABAD: National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Director General Khurram Ali on Friday said sharing one-time passwords (OTPs) remains the leading cause of WhatsApp account hacking in Pakistan as cybercrime cases continue to rise. What did the NCCIA chief say? Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Ali said complaints involving hacked WhatsApp and bank accounts have increased, prompting the agency to formulate a dedicated action plan to combat the trend. He said the NCCIA is establishing a helpline to assist victims in recovering compromised WhatsApp accounts. Ali also announced that the agency would launch a public awareness campaign in partnership with…