Author: EchoAsiaNews

NEW YORK: New York police arrested a Russian couple on Wednesday after they illegally climbed the antenna spire of the Empire State Building and staged a wedding proposal while displaying a banner calling for world peace. The pair, identified by the New York Police Department (NYPD) as 33-year-old Angelina Nikolau and 32-year-old Ivan Kuznetsov, climbed to the top of the landmark skyscraper before unfurling a large banner bearing the message: “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” The couple later descended to a lower platform on the antenna, where Kuznetsov proposed to Nikolau…

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has recommended that Pakistan overhaul its National Finance Commission (NFC) Award by revising both the vertical and horizontal resource-sharing formula and adopting a fiscal equalisation model to distribute financial resources among provinces based on expenditure needs and revenue-generating capacity. The recommendations were presented in the World Bank report, “Strengthening Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan,” launched on Wednesday by World Bank Lead Economist Tobias Haque and Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar. What changes has the World Bank proposed for the NFC Award? The World Bank recommended replacing the existing multi-factor NFC distribution formula with a transparent fiscal equalisation mechanism…

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop an international-standard cricket stadium in Jeddah, marking a significant step toward expanding cricket infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. The agreement was signed on Thursday by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the Chairman of the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation during a formal ceremony. What does the agreement include? Under the MoU, the PCB and SACF will collaborate on the construction of a modern cricket stadium in Jeddah that meets international standards for hosting global cricket events. The partnership also…

JOHANNESBURG: South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests that took place across the country on Tuesday, with authorities reporting that while most demonstrations remained peaceful, several turned violent, resulting in looting, public disorder and at least one fatality. According to Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili, authorities monitored 120 demonstrations nationwide, of which 108 proceeded peacefully while police intervened in 12 following incidents of violence and criminal activity. The arrests were made on charges including public violence, robbery and immigration-related offences. What triggered the nationwide protests? The demonstrations were organised by a coalition of more…

JERUSALEM: The United States and Israel have signed an agreement granting the US a long-term lease on land in West Jerusalem for the construction of a permanent American embassy, further cementing Washington’s diplomatic presence in the disputed city. Under the agreement, Israel will lease the land to the United States for a nominal annual fee of $1, paving the way for the construction of a purpose-built embassy complex. The move formalises the US diplomatic presence in Jerusalem, where the American embassy has operated from a temporary facility since 2018. What does the agreement provide? The lease allocates a site in…

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday issued a nationwide advisory warning of an elevated risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), flash floods, landslides and urban flooding across northern and central Pakistan from July 1 to 4. According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), rising temperatures, an active monsoon system and the influence of westerly weather waves are expected to accelerate glacier melting and trigger heavy rainfall, increasing the likelihood of multiple weather-related hazards. The authority said continuous monitoring and risk assessments are underway to ensure timely dissemination of warnings to provincial administrations and relevant…

SWAT: At least seven tourists were killed after a boat capsized at Saifullah Lake on the Swat River, while two others were rescued, according to rescue officials. Rescue 1122 Swat said emergency teams recovered seven bodies from the lake following the incident and shifted the victims to Kalam Hospital. Two passengers were rescued alive during the operation. Emergency response teams and ambulances were dispatched immediately after Rescue 1122 received reports of the accident. Rescue personnel carried out a search operation at the site before recovering all victims. What is known about the boat accident? Authorities said the tourist boat overturned…

LOS ANGELES: England and co-hosts United States advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after registering hard-fought victories in the knockout stage, while Belgium completed a dramatic comeback to book a meeting with the Americans. England recovered from an early setback to defeat Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with captain Harry Kane scoring twice in the closing stages of the match. The United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara despite being reduced to 10 men during the second half, while Belgium overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani-Canadian actor and television presenter Juggun Kazim has called on tourists to protect the natural environment of Nathia Gali after expressing concern over widespread littering during a family visit to the hill station. In a video shared on her official Instagram account on Tuesday, Kazim criticised visitors for leaving plastic waste along hiking trails, urging the public to dispose of their garbage responsibly instead of abandoning it in scenic areas. What concerns did Juggun Kazim raise? Kazim said she was disappointed by the amount of litter visible at multiple tourist locations in Nathia Gali, questioning why visitors failed to…

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made his first official flight aboard a newly modified Air Force One aircraft donated by Qatar, defending the controversial gift and dismissing criticism over its ethical and security implications. Speaking to reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews for North Dakota, Trump described the aircraft as unprecedented and praised Qatar for providing the luxury Boeing 747-8, which has undergone extensive modifications to meet presidential security and operational requirements. What did President Trump say about the new aircraft? Trump said he was “excited” to undertake the aircraft’s inaugural presidential flight, calling it unlike anything…