Author: EchoAsiaNews

LOS ANGELES: England and co-hosts the United States secured places in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday after overcoming determined opposition in contrasting knockout-stage victories, while Belgium completed a dramatic comeback to book a meeting with the Americans. England captain Harry Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes to inspire a 2-1 comeback victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, preventing an early World Cup exit for the Three Lions. Co-hosts the United States, meanwhile, defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara despite playing much of the second half with…

DOHA: The United States and Iran concluded two days of indirect negotiations in Doha without achieving progress toward a comprehensive peace agreement, with discussions remaining focused on implementing elements of the interim memorandum reached in June rather than addressing broader political or nuclear issues. According to sources familiar with the talks, negotiators concentrated on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of Iranian funds—two key components of the ceasefire memorandum that halted hostilities last month. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions produced “positive progress” on issues related to the memorandum and were “building on the…

Oil prices fell around 1% on Thursday, marking a third consecutive day of losses, after Qatar announced that Iran and the United States had made “positive progress” during indirect negotiations focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply transited before the recent conflict. Brent crude futures declined 77 cents, or 1.1%, to $70.80 per barrel by 0256 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 84 cents, or 1.2%, to $67.74 per barrel. Both benchmarks had already dropped more than 1% in the previous session, reaching their lowest…

What Happened? Unidentified hackers reportedly breached the broadcast systems of two Indian television news channels during the Indian president’s televised address, disrupting transmissions and triggering concerns over cybersecurity. According to media reports, the affected broadcasters were TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Kannada. The alleged breach occurred while the president’s speech was being aired. What Was Broadcast? Reports claimed that Pakistan’s national anthem was aired on TV9 Telugu during the disruption. A warning message was also reportedly displayed on the affected channels, cautioning against provoking Pakistan. The claims have circulated widely on social media, although no official confirmation has been issued…

What Happened? At least three people were killed and more than a dozen injured in overnight Russian drone attacks on southeastern Ukraine, while Kyiv launched long-range strikes targeting an oil refinery and a military-industrial facility deep inside Russian territory. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region with drones early Wednesday, killing one woman and damaging five petrol stations. A separate strike late Tuesday on the city of Zaporizhzhia killed two people and wounded several others. What Did Ukraine Target? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck an oil refinery in Ufa, more than 1,300 kilometres from the…

How Severe Is the Rainfall Deficit? India has recorded its driest June in 12 years and the fifth-driest June since nationwide rainfall records began in 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), raising concerns over agricultural output and food production. The IMD said rainfall during June was significantly below expectations, with the country receiving 39.8% less rainfall than forecast. The department has also predicted below-normal rainfall for July, the peak month of the southwest monsoon. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said only 1905, 1926, 2009 and 2014 recorded drier Junes than this year. How Has Agriculture Been Affected? Government…

Why Has Australia Sued Amazon? Australia’s consumer watchdog has launched legal proceedings against Amazon, alleging the company breached consumer protection laws by introducing advertisements to its Prime Video streaming service through unfair contract terms affecting more than one million subscribers. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) claims Amazon relied on unfair contractual provisions between November 1, 2023, and August 18, 2025, allowing it to alter the Prime Video service without providing refunds or meaningful compensation to subscribers. What Are the Allegations? According to the ACCC, Amazon introduced advertisements on Prime Video in early 2024 and required customers to pay…

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance has said technical-level negotiations between the United States and Iran are continuing despite Tehran’s public denials of direct talks, describing Iran’s public messaging as part of its negotiating approach. Speaking in an interview with The Michael Knowles Show, aired on Tuesday, Vance said technical discussions scheduled in Doha were proceeding as planned and were part of an ongoing diplomatic process between the two sides. What did JD Vance say? Vance said the discussions taking place in Doha are technical negotiations that build on previous diplomatic engagements between Washington and Tehran. He suggested that Iran’s…

RIYADH: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on internal security, counter-narcotics efforts and institutional coordination between the two countries. According to Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss issues of mutual interest, including enhancing collaboration against narcotics trafficking and expanding cooperation between the interior ministries of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. What is the purpose of the visit? The visit is focused on reinforcing bilateral cooperation in internal security, combating drug trafficking and improving…

NEW DELHI: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday briefed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latest developments in West Asia during a telephone conversation, as India reiterated its support for dialogue, diplomacy and lasting regional peace. According to India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), President Pezeshkian updated Modi on the evolving situation in the region and the future course of ongoing negotiations. Modi welcomed the progress made and reaffirmed India’s longstanding position that disputes should be resolved through peaceful dialogue and diplomatic engagement. What did the two leaders discuss? The leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia, with…