Author: EchoAsiaNews

Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout on Monday to advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after their Round of 32 match ended 1-1 following extra time. Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s spot kick. How Did Morocco Force Extra Time? The Netherlands took the lead in the 72nd minute through Cody Gakpo before Issa Diop equalised with a stoppage-time header to send the match into extra time. Neither side scored during the additional 30 minutes, taking the contest to penalties. Morocco progressed after the…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Iran in the first week of July to attend the funeral of Ali Khamenei, according to sources. The funeral is scheduled for July 9 in Mashhad following three days of ceremonies in Tehran and another in Qom, Iranian state media has reported. Khamenei was reported killed during the opening phase of the recent conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. His son, Mojtaba Ali Khamenei, has reportedly assumed the position of supreme leader after surviving the attack. Following the Iran visit, Sharif is also expected to travel to Türkiye, according…

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday warned that Pakistan would respond effectively to any attempt to stop or divert its share of water under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, describing water as a matter of national survival. Addressing an international seminar on the treaty in Islamabad, Tarar said Pakistan remained committed to preserving the agreement and reiterated that any changes to it could only be made through mutual consent. He said using water as a weapon would undermine regional and international peace and stability. The minister said the Indus Waters Treaty is one of the…

United States: Actors Tom Holland and Zendaya signed a piece of fan artwork during a promotional event for their upcoming film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, ahead of its scheduled theatrical release on July 31. The artwork, created by an artist identified on Instagram as Fabio Artiste, was presented to the actors during the event. Holland examined the painting and asked the artist whether he had created it himself before commenting, “Wow, that’s amazing.” Zendaya also viewed the artwork and described it as “so cool” and “amazing” before both actors signed the canvas and posed for a photograph with the artist.…

Jerusalem/Doha: Regional tensions escalated on Monday after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that a new military confrontation with Iran “can happen at any moment,” saying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for what he described as Operation Blue and White. Katz’s remarks come amid heightened security concerns following recent hostilities between Israel and Iran, raising fears that the fragile ceasefire could collapse if diplomatic efforts fail. Separately, Qatar announced the indefinite suspension of all maritime activities as a precautionary measure. The Qatari Ministry of Transport and Communications instructed vessel owners and maritime operators to refrain from sailing until…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Sunday announced a formal electoral alliance for the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, agreeing to field joint candidates in selected constituencies. The alliance was announced at a joint press conference in Islamabad by PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and JUI-F AJK chief Maulana Saeed Yousaf, alongside senior leaders from both parties. Under the agreement, JUI-F will field joint candidates in LA-23 Sudhnoti/Pallandri and LA-14 Western Bagh/Dhirkot, while the PPP will withdraw the nomination papers of its candidates, Nabeela Ayub and Zobia Khurshid, in…

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has received a record number of nomination papers for the 2026 general elections, indicating increased political participation compared with the previous polls. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said election preparations were progressing as planned and announced that two polling booths would be established at polling stations with more than 500 registered voters to facilitate the voting process. Election Commission Secretary Raja Shakeel Khan said nomination papers were received from all constituencies, including reserved refugee seats and the Rawalakot division, until June 23. According to the Election Commission, a…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces killed 29 militants during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) and subsequent precision strikes targeting militant hideouts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday. In a statement posted on X, Tarar said the operations were launched in response to recent terrorist attacks targeting civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp in Karachi. According to the minister, security forces carried out a planned intelligence-led ground operation in Bajaur district on June 28 against militants affiliated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Fitna al-Khawarij. The operation resulted in the killing of four militants, including alleged…

KARACHI: Police have submitted the investigation report and challan in the Gul Plaza fire case, concluding that the blaze which killed 72 people was accidental and resulted from negligence rather than sabotage. According to the investigation report, the Punjab Forensic Science Agency found no traces of explosive material at the site, ruling out the possibility of a deliberate attack. Police have nominated six suspects, including shopkeeper Naimatullah, his 11-year-old son Huzaifa, Gul Plaza Committee President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Mohammad Amin and Joint Secretary Mohammad Ramzan. All six have been declared absconders. The report states that…

LONDON: Grammy-winning singer Dua Lipa paid tribute to her mother, Anesa Lipa, on social media to mark her birthday, sharing a collection of family photographs and a heartfelt message celebrating the occasion. In an Instagram post published on Sunday, the singer described her mother as the “queen” of their family and thanked her for her love, patience and strength, saying the family was fortunate to have her. The post featured several previously unseen family photographs, including a selfie with her mother, childhood images, a family portrait and pictures of her parents and siblings. The collection also included images of her…