Author: EchoAsiaNews

BUDAPEST: Thousands of people took part in Budapest’s Pride march on Saturday, the first major LGBTQ+ demonstration since Hungary’s recent political transition following the defeat of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in April 2026. The march, held in the Hungarian capital, drew large crowds waving rainbow and European Union flags, marking a visible shift in public atmosphere after years of restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights under the previous government. Organisers and participants described the event as both a celebration and a call for continued reforms, after years of legislation that had restricted same-sex adoption, gender recognition, and LGBTQ+ education content. The…

SYDNEY: Australia will significantly increase financial penalties on social media companies that fail to comply with its under-16 social media restrictions, the government announced on Saturday, as authorities intensify enforcement of what it describes as a world-leading online safety measure. Under new legislation, the maximum fine for systemic breaches will rise to Aus$99 million (about $68 million), while the national eSafety regulator will be granted expanded powers to investigate and enforce compliance across major platforms. The Australian government said the eSafety Commission is currently investigating possible non-compliance by platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese…

LA GUAIRA/CARACAS: Rescue teams and desperate residents continued searching for survivors on Friday after powerful twin earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela, with the death toll rising to nearly 1,000 and hundreds still feared trapped under rubble. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck around 160 kilometres west of Caracas, causing widespread destruction in the capital region and coastal areas, particularly in La Guaira, where at least 100 buildings collapsed, including high-rise apartment complexes. Government officials said 920 people have been confirmed dead so far, with 3,360 injured, while hundreds remain missing. Authorities estimate that a large number of people are…

BRISTOL: Pakistan concluded their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 37-run victory over the Netherlands at the County Ground in Bristol, England, on Saturday. Defending a target of 127, Pakistan bowled out the Netherlands for 89 in 18 overs to register a comfortable win. Netherlands captain Babette de Leede top-scored with 30 off 41 deliveries, while opener Heather Siegers contributed 24 from 16 balls. No other Dutch batter reached double figures. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and Ayesha Zafar led the bowling attack with three wickets each. Nashra Sandhu and Diana Baig claimed one wicket apiece. Earlier, after…

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes, escalating tensions and raising fresh concerns over the durability of their ceasefire after Washington accused Tehran of attacking a commercial cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar positions, in response to what it described as an Iranian attack on a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the operation targeted military infrastructure used in the alleged attack, calling it “a powerful response” to what it termed…

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Saturday indicated that consumers could receive relief in petroleum prices in the coming days, a day after the government kept petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices unchanged in its latest fortnightly review. Speaking to a local media outlet, Malik said a high-level committee constituted on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would oversee petroleum price determination to ensure transparency and safeguard consumer interests. Under a notification issued by the Petroleum Division on Friday, the price of petrol remained unchanged at Rs299.50 per litre, while high-speed diesel (HSD) was retained at…

KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast the onset of the monsoon season in Pakistan from July 1, with the weather system expected to first affect the country’s northeastern regions. Sindh, however, is unlikely to receive monsoon rainfall before July 5, according to the Met Office. PMD spokesperson Anjum Nazir said the initial monsoon currents are expected to bring rain to Punjab, Kashmir, northern areas and northeastern Punjab from July 1. He said there is no indication of a monsoon system reaching Sindh over the next few days, adding that no rainfall is expected in the province before July…

Saarbrücken / Berlin: Germany has recorded a provisional national temperature record of 41.3°C in Saarbrücken, as a severe European heatwave continues to disrupt public life, strain infrastructure and raise health concerns across the continent. The German Weather Service reported that the temperature was measured in Saarbrücken-Burbach on 26 June, making it the highest temperature provisionally recorded in Germany. The figure still requires final verification, but it has already intensified public concern as extreme heat spreads eastward across Europe. Authorities in Germany have issued heat warnings and urged people to avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, drink water regularly and check on elderly…

Washington / Tehran: Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated after the US military carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage sites following an attack on a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. According to US officials, the operation targeted missile and drone facilities as well as radar-linked sites, in what Washington described as a limited response to threats against commercial shipping. The strike came after a cargo vessel was hit near the Omani coast, an incident that has already disrupted maritime confidence in one of the world’s most sensitive waterways. Iran condemned the…

QUETTA: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kohlu district in Balochistan on Friday, with tremors also felt in Zhob, Barkhan and Rakhni, according to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC). The NSMC said the earthquake originated at a depth of 17 kilometres, with its epicentre located approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Kohlu. Residents in the affected districts reported feeling the tremors, prompting some to leave homes and buildings as a precaution. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property. Earlier on Friday, mild earthquake tremors were also reported in Kohlu. Pakistan frequently experiences seismic activity due to…