Author: EchoAsiaNews

PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Ousmane Dembele added a goal as France defeated Iraq 3-0 on Monday to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage in a match disrupted by a lengthy weather delay. Mbappe struck in each half on his 100th international appearance, helping France claim a second consecutive victory in Group I and move into the last 32. The match was interrupted by severe thunderstorms at halftime, delaying the restart by nearly two hours before play resumed in Philadelphia. France took the lead in the 14th minute when Mbappe received a pass from Michael…

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a high-level official visit following recent US-Iran peace talks in Switzerland that were mediated by Islamabad, according to Iranian and Pakistani officials. Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing the president’s office, reported that one of the key objectives of the visit is to express appreciation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington. Pakistan’s Foreign Office later confirmed the visit, stating that President Pezeshkian is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers and senior government officials. During his stay, the Iranian president…

Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday, extending sharp losses from the previous session as investors awaited clearer evidence that crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz were returning to normal following recent US-Iran peace talks. Brent crude futures fell 20 cents, or 0.3%, to $77.70 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $73.74 per barrel by 0323 GMT. The decline followed a more than 3% drop on Monday after the United States granted Iran a 60-day sanctions waiver following initial peace negotiations. The market was further pressured by reports of reduced hostilities…

BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland: Iran and the United States concluded the first round of high-level negotiations aimed at ending the Middle East conflict on Monday, with both sides agreeing to continue technical discussions throughout the week under a mediator-led framework. According to a joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar, who are acting as facilitators, the two sides agreed on a roadmap to reach a final agreement within 60 days, alongside the immediate launch of detailed technical-level talks at the Swiss resort of Buergenstock. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the discussions as producing “major progress,” while Washington has yet to issue…

BRUSSELS: A severe heatwave intensified across large parts of Europe on Sunday, pushing temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius and prompting health warnings, transport disruptions and growing concerns over the impact on vulnerable populations and wildlife. The extreme weather coincided with the summer solstice, traditionally marking the beginning of the hottest period of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, raising fears that Europe could face an unusually early and prolonged spell of extreme heat. Meteorologists attributed the soaring temperatures to a powerful mass of hot air moving northward from the Sahara Desert, driven by a high-pressure system known as the…

INGLEWOOD, California: Iran’s national football team departed Los Angeles on Sunday after securing a goalless draw against Belgium at SoFi Stadium, a result that preserved its chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup. Before leaving, members of the Iranian delegation left a handwritten message in the team’s locker room thanking Los Angeles for its hospitality and expressing pride in the team’s performance during its stay in the city. The note, later released by the Iranian Football Federation, described the team’s participation as one conducted with “pride,” “honour,” and “dignity” and thanked supporters for their backing…

TACLOBAN, Philippines: Three people were killed and five others injured in a shooting at a secondary school in the central Philippines on Monday, authorities said, in a rare incident of gun violence on a school campus. The attack occurred at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time inside San Jose National High School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, located in Leyte province, according to the Tacloban City Police Office. Police said two suspects have been taken into custody following the shooting. One of the suspects, a Grade 9 student who is a minor, was arrested shortly after the incident, while the…

BUERGENSTOCK, Switzerland: The first round of high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded on Monday in Switzerland, with mediators announcing that both sides had agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. In a joint statement, mediators Pakistan and Qatar said technical discussions would continue throughout the week at the Swiss resort of Buergenstock, where officials from both countries met following weeks of regional tensions and a fragile ceasefire arrangement. The statement said the parties had established a framework for ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and agreed on mechanisms…

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he will step down as leader of the Labour Party and resign as prime minister, with a successor expected to take office before Parliament returns in September. The decision comes less than two years after Starmer secured a landslide general election victory that ended years of Conservative rule and promised political stability. However, mounting pressure from within Labour and declining public support ultimately forced his departure. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer acknowledged that confidence within his parliamentary party had eroded. “The question my party is asking now is whether…

LUCERNE, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran of further military action if it does not restrain armed groups allied with Tehran in Lebanon, as American and Iranian negotiators opened technical-level talks in Switzerland aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire agreement. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Iran of backing unrest in Lebanon and threatened renewed military action against Tehran. “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder.” The warning came as…