Author: EchoAsiaNews

PARIS: A severe heatwave sweeping across Western Europe has claimed dozens of lives, disrupted transport and power supplies, forced school closures, and prompted authorities to issue urgent health warnings as temperatures shattered records across the region. Britain, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and several other European countries faced extreme conditions on Wednesday, with forecasters warning that the heatwave could persist through the end of the week. Britain recorded its hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 36.1 degrees Celsius in southern England, surpassing the previous June record of 35.6°C set in 1957 and matched in 1976. France also registered…

MIAMI: Brazil secured top spot in Group C and advanced to the World Cup round of 32 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, while South Africa, Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina made history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time. The five-time world champions finished first in the group on goal difference after Vinicius Junior scored twice and Matheus Cunha added a third in a dominant display at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The result left Scotland facing likely elimination after a costly defensive performance. Vinicius opened the scoring in the seventh minute after capitalizing on a mistake…

BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended losses on Thursday, falling to their lowest levels in nearly four months as concerns over Middle East supply disruptions continued to ease following a ceasefire accord between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Brent crude futures for August delivery fell $1.22, or 1.7%, to $72.52 a barrel by 0337 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined $1.02, or 1.5%, to $69.32 a barrel. Both benchmarks touched their lowest levels since February 27. The declines came as markets increasingly priced in a faster-than-expected return of oil supplies from the Middle East, particularly through the Strait…

CARACAS: At least 164 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said early Thursday, as emergency crews raced to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart about 160 kilometers west of Caracas, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Authorities warned the casualty count is expected to rise significantly as rescue operations continue in some of the hardest-hit areas. Rodriguez said the current figures do not include casualties from La Guaira state, home to Venezuela’s main international…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, cyber security and immigration during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart, Dr Eskandar Momeni. According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, the two ministers held detailed discussions on bilateral relations and the regional situation following the recent Iran-US peace agreement signed in Switzerland. Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region, expressing hope that the agreement would contribute to long-term security and economic stability across the Middle East. He congratulated the Iranian government and its negotiating team on the…

GUADALAJARA: Colombia secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo in Group K on Tuesday. A 76th-minute strike from Daniel Munoz proved decisive as Colombia claimed their second consecutive win of the tournament, moving to the top of the group with six points and guaranteeing qualification to the last 32. The South Americans dominated much of the contest and created numerous chances, but were repeatedly denied by DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in the match. Colombia thought they had…

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States and Iran on Wednesday issued conflicting statements over key elements of their recently signed framework agreement, casting uncertainty over efforts to secure a lasting peace following months of conflict. US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to permit international nuclear inspections “into infinity,” while Tehran rejected the claim, insisting that its nuclear programme was not discussed during the latest round of negotiations in Switzerland. “We’re getting along quite well,” Trump said, expressing optimism about the talks despite growing differences over implementation of the agreement. The two sides also disagreed over the use of Iranian assets…

WASHINGTON: The United States has granted Iran a 60-day sanctions waiver effective June 22 following the first round of talks under a newly emerging peace agreement between Washington and Tehran, marking a significant step in efforts to ease regional tensions. The waiver was announced after negotiators from both countries reported progress during talks aimed at establishing a broader framework for long-term cooperation and stability. US President Donald Trump welcomed the initial outcome of the negotiations but warned that Washington would closely monitor Tehran’s compliance with the agreement. “If Iran doesn’t live up to their agreement, or if they’re not behaving,…

LONDON: Independent energy company NatPower and Tesla announced on Tuesday a multi-year agreement to develop 25 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery energy storage capacity across Italy and the United Kingdom, marking the first phase of a project valued at up to $5 billion. The agreement comes as European countries accelerate investment in battery storage infrastructure to support growing renewable energy generation and improve grid stability. Under the partnership, NatPower will deploy Tesla’s Megapack battery storage systems and utilize the company’s energy trading technology to optimize electricity purchases and sales. The initial phase includes the construction of five battery storage projects, forming…

GAZA CITY: Residents across the Gaza Strip are facing major challenges in following the FIFA World Cup 2026 as ongoing conflict, displacement, electricity shortages and unreliable internet access disrupt access to live broadcasts. Many football fans who once gathered in homes, cafes and sports venues to watch matches now rely on delayed broadcasts, mobile phones and match highlights due to the difficult conditions created by the war. In Gaza City, displaced residents living in temporary shelters and tent camps say frequent power outages and poor internet connectivity have made it difficult to follow the tournament in real time. Several residents…