Author: EchoAsiaNews

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has warned that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent remarks could further aggravate the country’s political environment, urging him to adopt the tone of a national leader rather than engage in divisive rhetoric. Speaking on Geo News’ Jirga programme, Sanaullah described Bilawal’s criticism of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif as inappropriate and cautioned against using inflammatory political statements ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. What did Rana Sanaullah say? Sanaullah said Bilawal should speak as a national leader instead of promoting political hostility for electoral purposes.…

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday expressed support for Argentina ahead of its FIFA World Cup final clash against Spain, after receiving a national team jersey from Argentina’s ambassador to Israel. Netanyahu said he would be supporting Argentina in the final and highlighted his close relationship with Argentine President Javier Milei. The Argentine ambassador presented Netanyahu with the football jersey during a meeting ahead of the highly anticipated match. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, will face Spain in the World Cup final as both teams compete for the tournament title. Netanyahu’s comments come amid strong diplomatic ties…

NEW YORK: Spain’s strong performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has attracted a growing following in New York City, where longtime supporters and newly converted fans are rallying behind La Roja ahead of the final. How has Spain’s success changed the World Cup atmosphere in New York? Spanish cultural centres and restaurants across the city have seen increased crowds throughout the tournament, with fans gathering to watch Spain’s matches and celebrate the team’s progress. At La Nacional, a Spanish cultural organisation in Manhattan, officials said demand for the World Cup final watch party has exceeded capacity. The venue has…

KYIV: At least one person was killed and nine others injured after Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv and the surrounding region early Sunday, Ukrainian officials said. The attack triggered fires in residential buildings, a supermarket and other facilities across the Ukrainian capital as air raid sirens sounded throughout the city. Emergency services responded to multiple locations affected by the strikes, with authorities assessing the extent of the damage. The attack came amid continued Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, as the war between Moscow and Kyiv continues into its third year. Ukrainian officials said further details about the…

RAMALLAH: A 17-year-old Palestinian footballer died on Saturday, a week after being shot during an attack in his village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials and relatives said. Fadi Hamdallah al-Nassan, a player for Al-Mughayyir Club and a member of the Palestinian national youth team, was shot on July 11 in Al-Mughayyir village, east of Ramallah, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). The PFA said al-Nassan was shot in the thigh during an attack involving Israeli settlers and forces. His leg was later amputated, and he died from his injuries on Saturday. What happened during the attack? According…

JERUSALEM: Israel has changed regulations governing crocodile ownership, allowing the reptiles to be used for security purposes, including as a possible deterrent against prison escapes, according to Israeli officials and media reports. Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman reclassified crocodiles from wild animals to “captive-bred wildlife,” a move that transfers oversight from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority to designated security bodies. Why has Israel changed the crocodile regulations? The regulatory change permits Nile crocodiles to be bred and kept by security bodies under conditions set by environmental authorities to prevent their release into the wild. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar…

AYODHYA: Indian authorities have launched an investigation into alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, renewing scrutiny over financial management at major religious institutions that receive large amounts of cash and valuables from devotees. Police began the probe in June and arrested eight people responsible for handling donations at the Hindu shrine, according to officials. Authorities have not disclosed the amount allegedly stolen, but Indian media reports estimated the missing funds could total around INR30 million ($314,000). What triggered the investigation? The investigation began after allegations that donations collected at the temple were siphoned off by individuals…

GAZA: Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed 11 people, including three children and their parents, Gaza’s civil defence agency and hospitals said on Saturday. The Gaza civil defence agency said a family of five was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a residential apartment in northwest Gaza City. The victims included three children and their parents, while one child survived as they were not inside the house at the time of the strike. “The family’s only surviving member is one child, who was not inside the house at the time of the strike,” Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil…

QUETTA: A magnitude-4 earthquake struck Quetta, Ziarat and surrounding areas of Balochistan on Saturday, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) National Seismic Monitoring Centre said the earthquake’s epicentre was located 37 kilometres northeast of Quetta. The quake occurred at a depth of 15 kilometres. Tremors were felt across Quetta, Ziarat and nearby localities, prompting residents to move outdoors. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Where was the earthquake centred? The NSMC said the epicentre was located 37 kilometres northeast of Quetta, with the earthquake registering a magnitude of…

ISLAMABAD: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has summoned Noreen Niazi, sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, over social media posts that the agency alleges contain false and inflammatory content against state institutions. According to an official notice issued on Saturday, Niazi has been directed to appear before the Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad at 12pm on July 20. The NCCIA stated that she is under inquiry for allegedly disseminating content intended to defame state institutions and promote false narratives on social media. The notice warned that failure to comply could result in legal action under…