Author: EchoAsiaNews

AUSTIN: Pop star Ariana Grande celebrated her 33rd birthday during the Austin leg of her ongoing Eternal Sunshine Tour, thanking fans and her touring team after completing a three-night run of performances at the Moody Center. Grande marked her birthday on June 26, coinciding with the second of three scheduled concerts in Austin. Following the performances, she shared a series of photographs on social media capturing moments from the celebrations. In a post addressed to fans, Grande thanked the Austin audience for making her birthday “the most special” and expressed appreciation for the support shown throughout the three concerts. She…

KARACHI: Karachi trader Ali Murtaza, who was killed in a firing incident in Balochistan’s Dasht area, was laid to rest on Sunday as members of the business community demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for a transparent investigation into the attack. Funeral prayers were offered at Rahmaniya Mosque on Tariq Road before Murtaza was buried at the Society Cemetery. The funeral was attended by family members, relatives, trader representatives and members of the business community. Business leaders strongly condemned the killing, urging the federal and Balochistan governments to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay. Karachi Mobile…

CARACAS: Rescue teams continued searching for survivors across Venezuela on Sunday after twin powerful earthquakes devastated the country’s northern coast, with the death toll approaching 1,500 and thousands still missing. Authorities said at least 1,450 people have been killed, more than 3,150 injured and 12,721 displaced following the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that struck on Wednesday. Officials also reported the collapse of 774 buildings, most of them in the heavily affected coastal state of La Guaira. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said search-and-rescue operations would continue after more survivors were recovered alive on Sunday, stressing that authorities were maintaining hope…

SEOUL: South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday following the national team’s shock first-round elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as mounting public anger intensified calls for sweeping reforms within the Korea Football Association (KFA). South Korea failed to advance to the knockout stage after suffering a 1-0 defeat to lower-ranked South Africa in their final Group A match, missing qualification as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams despite opening the campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic. The early exit triggered widespread criticism from political leaders, former players and supporters. President Lee Jae…

LONDON: Global oil prices rose on Monday after renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran heightened concerns over energy supplies and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, despite both sides agreeing to resume diplomatic talks. Brent crude futures gained 58 cents, or 0.8%, to $72.57 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 88 cents, or 1.3%, to $70.11 per barrel in early trading. The gains followed several days of US-Iran strikes and counterstrikes that underscored the fragility of the interim peace agreement reached on June 17. Renewed attacks on vessels in the Strait of…

WASHINGTON/DOHA: The United States and Iran have agreed to suspend recent hostilities in the Gulf and resume technical negotiations over their dispute concerning the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official, easing fears that the interim peace agreement reached earlier this month was on the verge of collapse. The official said both sides had agreed to “stand down” while technical discussions on the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on June 17, continue. Under the agreement, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will resume, with further talks scheduled to take place in Qatar on Tuesday. The renewed diplomatic…

KAMPALA: Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the shutdown of two major independent media organisations, sparking a security crackdown and raising concerns over press freedom in the East African nation. Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced on Sunday that he had directed the closure of the Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV Uganda television station, both owned by Kenya-based Nation Media Group. In posts on the social media platform X, he said he did not believe in a free press and insisted that the media should be “guided by cadres of the revolution.” He…

BAGHDAD: Several Iraqi politicians, including members of parliament and senior officials, have been arrested on corruption charges in a large-scale security operation in the capital, Iraqi state-run media reported on Sunday. The Iraqi News Agency said the arrests took place early Sunday in Baghdad, including in the heavily fortified International Zone (Green Zone) and other areas of the city. The report, quoting a security source, said some of those detained were lawmakers whose parliamentary immunity had been lifted, as well as officials named in confessional statements. Authorities have not yet issued an official list of those arrested, and it remains…

CAIRO: Egypt’s government has added four state-owned companies to its ongoing privatisation programme as part of efforts to expand private sector participation in the economy, the cabinet said on Saturday. The decision was announced as part of broader economic reforms aimed at improving efficiency, attracting foreign investment, and reducing the state’s role in commercial activity. According to the cabinet statement, the companies will be offered through public sale mechanisms under the state asset divestment plan. Further details on the timeline and valuation of the firms were not immediately disclosed. Egypt has been gradually expanding its privatisation programme in recent years…

NOUMÉA: Polls opened on Sunday in New Caledonia for the first provincial elections since 2019, with around 2,500 police officers deployed across the French-ruled Pacific territory to secure voting stations amid heightened political tensions. Voting began at 8am local time (21:00 GMT Saturday), with long queues reported outside polling stations, including at the Hôtel de Ville in the capital, Nouméa, according to RNZ. Authorities said approximately 192,000 registered voters will elect 76 councillors across three provincial assemblies: 40 seats in the southern province, 22 in the north, and 14 in the Loyalty Islands. From these, 54 elected representatives will go…