Author: EchoAsiaNews

Indian prime minister says protesters should be guided rather than punished as government faces pressure after exam paper leak controversy. MUMBAI, Aug 1 (Reuters): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said legal action against student protesters would not resolve the issues behind recent demonstrations, saying authorities should focus on guiding young people instead of punishing them. In a video message shared on social media, Modi said he wanted to forgive students who used abusive language against him during protests last month, adding that forcing them to repeatedly appear in courts would not address the underlying concerns. “These are misled…

Bilal Azhar Kayani expresses confidence ahead of second phase of AJK elections scheduled for August 2. State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani on Friday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would continue to support the right of Kashmiris to representation through refugee constituencies in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly. Addressing election campaign meetings in Dina, Dhanyala, Kashmir Colony and Chotala, Kayani said the party remained committed to protecting the political rights of voters in refugee-seat constituencies. The minister was campaigning for PML-N candidates Raja Siddique, contesting from LA-39 Jammu-VI, and Syed Shaukat Shah, contesting from LA-42…

Pakistan Meteorological Department says tremors were recorded at 6:01pm with epicentre located within Karachi. A 2.9-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Karachi on Friday evening, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The PMD said the earthquake occurred at 6:01pm, with its epicentre located within the port city. The tremors were recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres. No immediate reports of casualties or property damage were received following the earthquake. What did PMD report about the earthquake? According to the Met Office, the earthquake was centred within Karachi and had a magnitude of 2.9 on the Richter scale. Residents in…

Minister says hybrid system aims to address past mistakes as debate over governance reforms intensifies after Mohsin Naqvi’s remarks. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said there were no indications that the current political system was nearing its end, describing the existing “hybrid system” as an opportunity to address mistakes made in the past. Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath,” Asif said the present system would continue and its purpose was to improve governance and resolve national challenges. “I do not think that the present system will come to an end. The objective of the hybrid…

OGRA lowers petrol by 12 paisas and diesel by 66 paisas per litre as revised rates take effect from August 1 to August 3. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has marginally reduced the prices of petroleum products for a three-day period, with the revised rates taking effect from August 1 to August 3 under Pakistan’s newly introduced daily fuel pricing mechanism. According to an official notification, the price of petrol has been reduced by 12 paisas per litre to Rs336.03, while high-speed diesel (HSD) has been cut by 66 paisas per litre to Rs392.38. The price of kerosene…

Gianni Infantino abandons proposal after opposition from UEFA, AFC, CONCACAF and growing concerns over the World Cup’s commercial future. FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Saturday announced the withdrawal of a proposal to allow private investment in the FIFA World Cup, following widespread opposition from football governing bodies and senior officials. “Our purpose has always been — and will always be — to unite and improve,” Infantino said in a statement. “As a result, this proposal will not proceed.” The proposal, unveiled earlier this week, sought to establish a new commercial subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), to manage competitions including the…

At least 10 injured in central Gaza attack as Antonio Guterres calls newly announced Hamas deal the “only good news” and presses for a regional ceasefire. An Israeli air strike struck a residential house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza early Saturday, injuring at least 10 people, according to medics at Al-Awda Hospital cited by Al Jazeera. Hospital officials said those injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital for treatment following the strike. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the reported attack. The strike came as attention remained focused on the newly announced Gaza peace…

The Board of Peace on Friday released a 15-point roadmap detailing the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza ceasefire plan, outlining a phased framework that links Hamas’s disarmament to a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The proposal states that Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian factions would cease military operations once the plan is approved. A detailed timetable and implementation mechanisms are to be prepared within 14 days, with the possibility of an extension if required. The roadmap also proposes the establishment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) to assume administrative responsibilities…

ZURICH: FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina’s football federation and several players following incidents during the World Cup, including a post-final altercation with Spain players and the display of a political banner referencing the Falkland Islands after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. The disciplinary cases announced by FIFA on Wednesday include charges against Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, defender Nahuel Molina, and assistant coach Roberto Ayala over incidents that occurred after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final on July 19. What Charges Did FIFA Bring Against Argentina Players? FIFA charged Paredes with three counts of assault related…

MUMBAI: The Indian rupee’s recent gains came under pressure on Thursday as rising US Treasury yields and concerns over volatile oil prices challenged the currency’s recovery to a near three-week high. The rupee is expected to open slightly weaker or remain largely unchanged after strengthening for four consecutive sessions. The currency gained 0.2% on Wednesday to close at 95.6475 per dollar, marking a rise of more than 1% during the recent rally. Traders attributed much of the rupee’s recovery to sustained intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which has stepped into the foreign exchange market to support the…