Author: EchoAsiaNews

The United States military reported that ballistic missile attacks by Iran have declined by about 90 percent since the start of the current conflict, attributing the drop largely to recent strikes by US B‑2 stealth bombers against deeply buried Iranian missile launchers. At a press briefing, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), said American forces have intensified their aerial campaign under what officials call Operation Epic Fury, targeting nearly 200 sites in Iran over the past three days. B‑2 aircraft have delivered dozens of 2,000‑pound penetrator bombs against underground ballistic missile facilities, significantly degrading Tehran’s ability…

Japan’s technology conglomerate SoftBank Group is seeking a loan of up to $40 billion to help finance its investment in artificial-intelligence firm OpenAI, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. The proposed borrowing could become SoftBank’s largest ever US-dollar-denominated loan, reflecting the company’s aggressive strategy to expand its footprint in the rapidly growing artificial-intelligence sector. Reports indicate the planned financing may take the form of a bridge loan with a maturity of about 12 months, with major financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, expected to help arrange the funding. The move comes as SoftBank doubles down on its investment…

The United States has approved a temporary waiver allowing Russian oil cargoes stranded at sea to be sold to India, easing restrictions despite ongoing sanctions on Moscow’s energy sector. The US Treasury Department issued a 30-day licence authorising the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products loaded onto vessels by March 5, 2026, allowing them to be delivered to Indian buyers. The waiver will remain valid until early April 2026. US officials said the decision aims to maintain stability in global oil markets and prevent supply disruptions caused by rising geopolitical tensions and shipping disruptions in key…

Vote counting is underway in Nepal following a crucial parliamentary election held on 5 March 2026, the first national poll since a deadly youth-led uprising last year forced the resignation of the government. Nearly 19 million registered voters participated in the election to choose 275 members of the House of Representatives, which will determine the country’s next government. Initial counting began soon after polling stations closed, though final results are expected to take several days because ballot boxes from remote mountainous regions must be transported to counting centers. The election comes about six months after the September 2025 uprising, when…

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Iran is making a serious miscalculation if it believes the United States cannot sustain the ongoing war, stressing that Washington has the resources and determination to continue military operations for as long as required. Speaking during a press conference, Hegseth said Iran was wrongly assuming that the United States would be unable to maintain its military campaign. “Iran is hoping that we cannot sustain this, which is a really bad miscalculation,” he said, adding that the US would set the timeline of the conflict. The remarks come as the US and Israel continue…

The federal government has dismissed a notification circulating on social media claiming that all port entries in Pakistan had been temporarily suspended, calling the document fabricated and misleading. According to the Ministry of Information, no such directive has been issued by either the Cabinet Division or the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Officials clarified that the viral notification falsely alleged that entries at major ports across the country would remain suspended until March 10 due to security concerns. The fake notice claimed that operations at several key ports, including Karachi, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani, would be halted temporarily. Authorities said…

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it had struck a U.S. oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf, causing the vessel to catch fire, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media. The claim has not been independently confirmed by the United States or other maritime authorities. In its statement, the IRGC said that during a time of war, control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that all military and commercial ships belonging to the United States, Israel, European countries, and their supporters would be denied…

Harry Styles has publicly revealed that he wrote a personal letter to himself before winning the Album of the Year award at the 2023 Grammy Awards for Harry’s House, describing the exercise as a way to stay grounded amid the pressures of fame and industry expectations. The 32‑year‑old singer explained in a recent interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that he drafted the note the night before the ceremony and planned to open it afterward, regardless of the outcome, to “catch” himself if he felt disappointed or overly elated about the result. He paraphrased the letter’s message as reminding himself…

Pakistan has formally expressed serious concern over a long‑term uranium supply and nuclear technology cooperation agreement between India and Canada, warning the deal could have far‑reaching implications for regional stability and the global nuclear non‑proliferation framework. The agreement, signed during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to New Delhi, includes a C$2.6 billion (about $1.9 billion) uranium supply deal and collaboration on small modular reactors and advanced nuclear technology designed to support India’s civilian nuclear energy programme. Responding to media queries, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad is watching the arrangement closely and is troubled by its strategic consequences. He…

A drone targeted a U.S. military base in Iraq on March 5, marking a significant escalation as Tehran’s forces and Iran‑aligned groups expand attacks on American assets across the region. The strike in Iraq occurred against the backdrop of a widening war that began after the joint U.S. and Israeli military offensive inside Iran, which included strikes on Tehran’s security infrastructure and claims of killing senior Iranian leadership. Iranian forces and allied militias have responded with sustained missile and drone barrages at U.S. facilities, regional capitals, and Israeli territory. Across the Gulf, Iranian‑launched ballistic missiles were intercepted over NATO member airspace,…