Author: EchoAsiaNews

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday intensified a public dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reiterating his claim that she repeatedly sought a photograph with him during the recent G7 summit and accusing her of damaging relations with Washington. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Meloni had repeatedly requested a picture with him during the summit in France. “Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked, over and over, for a picture with me during the G7 meeting in France,” Trump wrote. The latest comments came days after Trump sparked controversy in an interview by claiming that Meloni…

KARACHI: Pakistan’s mango exports are expected to decline sharply this season as the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt trade routes, increase shipping costs and weaken demand in key overseas markets, industry officials said. Exporters estimate overseas shipments will fall by at least 30% this year, with total exports projected at around 80,000 tonnes, down from approximately 110,000 tonnes last season. Industry representatives attribute the decline to regional instability, border disruptions and soaring freight charges. Pakistan, the world’s fourth-largest mango exporter, typically earns around $110 million annually from international mango sales. The fruit is one of…

LONDON: Scottish police have charged a 36-year-old man in connection with a series of violent attacks in Edinburgh that left five people injured, as authorities investigate the incidents as potential terrorism motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. Police Scotland said on Saturday that the suspect, a white Scottish man, had been arrested following multiple attacks across the city on Friday night and that there was no ongoing threat to the public. “A 36-year-old man has been charged in connection with a number of incidents which took place in Edinburgh on Friday, 19 June, 2026,” Police Scotland said in a statement. Authorities added…

LONDON: New Zealand crushed England by 253 runs in the second Test at The Oval on Sunday, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 after fast bowler Matt Henry produced a match-winning performance with 11 wickets. Resuming the fifth day needing seven wickets to complete victory, New Zealand wrapped up England’s second innings in just 48 minutes. Chasing an imposing target of 463, England were bowled out for 209 as Henry claimed 6-29 to finish with match figures of 11-109. The visitors dominated the contest from the opening day, with centuries from Glenn Phillips and Henry Nicholls laying the foundation for…

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday issued a nationwide weather advisory warning of thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rainfall across large parts of Pakistan over the next 12 to 24 hours, with authorities cautioning about possible urban flooding, flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in vulnerable areas. According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), the expected weather system is in line with the seasonal forecast issued several months ago. The authority said it had been sharing advance warnings and risk assessments with federal, provincial and district administrations to facilitate preparedness and emergency…

LAKE LUCERNE, Switzerland: Delegations from the United States and Iran met separately with Pakistani mediators in Switzerland on Sunday ahead of four days of technical-level talks aimed at implementing the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), officials said. The negotiations, dubbed the “Lake Lucerne Summit,” mark the first formal engagement between Washington and Tehran since both sides signed the Pakistan-mediated agreement on June 17 to end nearly four months of conflict. The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance and including special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of…

BEIRUT: Israeli forces launched a series of strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking a sharp escalation in tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and triggering renewed clashes with Hezbollah fighters, according to witnesses and local reports. Residents reported explosions in multiple areas of southern Lebanon, including near Kfar Tebnit and Ali al-Taher, as Israeli aircraft and artillery targeted locations believed to be linked to Hezbollah. Witnesses said several Lebanese civilians were killed during the strikes, although officials had not immediately released confirmed casualty figures. Reports also indicated that a number of Israeli soldiers were wounded during the fighting. Videos circulating…

LOS ANGELES: Canada secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory with a commanding 6-0 win over nine-man Qatar on Thursday, while Switzerland revived their Group B campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Playing before a packed home crowd at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, Canada ended a six-match losing streak at World Cups dating back to their tournament debut in 1986. Jonathan David starred with a hat-trick, while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba added goals. Qatar defender Mohammad Manai also scored an own goal as Canada recorded the biggest win in their World Cup history. The result moved Canada…

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday voiced concern over India’s ongoing reservoir expansion and water diversion projects on the Indus River system, warning that the initiatives could alter natural river flows and pose risks to regional stability and water security. Addressing a conference on transboundary water resources in Brussels via video link, Dar said Pakistan’s concerns were based not only on Indian statements but also on developments taking place across rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). “It is important to underscore that our concerns are not merely based on Indian statements,” Dar said,…

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday he had authorised a memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States despite holding reservations about the agreement, after receiving assurances from senior Iranian officials that the country’s interests would be protected. In a written message to the nation, Khamenei said President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials had pledged to safeguard Iran’s rights and the interests of the so-called “Resistance Front” during the implementation of the agreement. Khamenei said Pezeshkian, as head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, had accepted responsibility for ensuring that Tehran would not concede to…