Author: EchoAsiaNews

KANSAS CITY: Lionel Messi scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his career as Argentina opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria on Tuesday at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 18th minute to give his side an early lead. He added a second goal in the 60th minute after converting a rebound before completing his hat-trick in the 77th minute with a strike from outside the penalty area. The three-goal performance saw Messi equal Miroslav Klose’s record for the most goals scored in men’s World Cup history. At the same…

Dhaka: Bangladesh has formally summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Dhaka to protest the alleged detention and questioning of a government adviser at New Delhi airport, in a move that has further strained already sensitive bilateral relations. According to officials, Strategy Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman, associated with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration, was stopped upon arrival in India and questioned for several hours before being allowed to proceed to a conference. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman termed the incident “unexpected and unfortunate,” and Dhaka conveyed its concerns to Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe on Monday. The Indian foreign ministry has…

Global shipping operators are unlikely to resume full transit through the Strait of Hormuz for several weeks, despite a US-Iran agreement aimed at de-escalating the regional conflict, according to industry leaders. The chief executive of Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, said operators will wait for concrete and verifiable implementation of the deal before restoring regular passage through the strategic waterway. Speaking to the Financial Times, Jotaro Tamura said shipowners require more than a political agreement, stressing that conditions in the Strait of Hormuz must be “material” and operationally secure before commercial fleets return in…

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting political and strategic pressure after a preliminary US-Iran agreement, brokered under US President Donald Trump, advanced without securing several of Israel’s key demands, according to officials and analysts. The Reuters report says the interim deal, expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday, has exposed deep tensions between Washington and Jerusalem over the future of Iran, Hezbollah, and regional security arrangements. A senior Israeli official, speaking anonymously, described the agreement as “terrible for Israel,” adding that the view is shared across Israel’s political and military leadership. The deal, they said, leaves…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s outgoing fiscal year remained largely stable on the macroeconomic front, despite renewed inflationary pressures linked to the Gulf conflict in the final quarter, according to official fiscal data and policy analysis. The rupee stayed broadly steady throughout the year, while continued engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) helped improve predictability in fiscal management. Authorities also credited increased documentation of the economy, particularly among salaried individuals and formal businesses, for supporting revenue stability through stricter compliance and higher effective taxation. For the next fiscal year, the government has introduced selective tax relief measures targeting the documented sector, including…

HONG KONG: Global stock markets mostly advanced on Tuesday while oil prices remained subdued as investors continued to welcome the US-Iran peace agreement that is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies. Market sentiment remained positive after a strong rally on Monday triggered by the announcement of a framework agreement aimed at ending more than three months of conflict between the United States and Iran. Investors are now focused on the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Geneva, where both sides are expected to finalize the agreement and outline the next phase…

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif: A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed during takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California on Monday, killing all eight people aboard and prompting the suspension of flight operations at the installation. Air Force officials said the aircraft was conducting a routine test mission in support of a radar modernization program when it crashed on the runway shortly after becoming airborne. The eight-engine strategic bomber burst into flames on impact, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky that was visible for miles across the Mojave Desert. Speaking at a…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced that Pakistan will host the formal signing ceremony of the recently negotiated US-Iran peace agreement on June 19, describing the development as a major diplomatic breakthrough aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East. Addressing the National Assembly, the prime minister said the agreement represents a significant step toward restoring regional stability after months of fighting that has caused thousands of casualties and disrupted global energy markets. The announcement came hours after Pakistani and US officials confirmed that Washington and Tehran had reached a framework agreement designed to halt hostilities…

LOS ANGELES: Iran fought back twice to secure a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their opening Group G match of the FIFA World Cup on Monday, while European champions Spain were held to a shock goalless draw by tournament debutants Cape Verde. Playing under intense international scrutiny following months of uncertainty over their World Cup participation amid the Middle East conflict, Iran earned a valuable point at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before a crowd of more than 70,000 spectators. New Zealand took the lead twice through Elijah Just, who scored once in each half, but Iran responded on…

WASHINGTON/GENEVA: US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States and Iran have signed a preliminary agreement aimed at extending a ceasefire in the Gulf conflict, though both sides stressed that negotiations toward a permanent peace settlement remain ongoing. Speaking after arriving in France for the G7 summit, Trump said the agreement had been finalized and that Vice President JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva later this week. The memorandum would extend the fragile ceasefire reached in April by an additional 60 days and facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical…