Author: EchoAsiaNews

The United States is preparing strict new guidelines for artificial intelligence companies seeking government contracts, following a growing dispute between the government and AI firm Anthropic, according to a report on Friday. The proposed rules would require AI developers working with the US government to allow “any lawful” use of their AI models, a condition that could significantly expand how federal agencies deploy artificial intelligence technologies. The move comes amid tensions between US authorities and Anthropic after disagreements over the permitted uses of advanced AI systems, particularly in defense and national security applications. Under the draft guidelines, companies bidding for…

Cuban authorities say a fifth person has died following a deadly shootout last month between Cuban border troops and individuals aboard a Florida-registered speedboat off the island’s northern coast. The Cuban Interior Ministry said the latest victim died from injuries sustained during the confrontation, raising the death toll from the incident that occurred near the Villa Clara province coastline. The clash took place on February 25, when Cuban border guards intercepted a speedboat that had entered the country’s territorial waters. Authorities said the occupants of the vessel opened fire on the patrol boat, wounding a Cuban officer and triggering a…

US President Donald Trump has drawn attention for describing the decision to confront Iran largely in terms of instinct and personal judgment, as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continues to intensify. Speaking to reporters during the first week of the war, Trump appeared to emphasise intuition over detailed public explanations, with the White House acknowledging that the president acted on what it described as a “feeling” about the threat posed by Iran. In remarks to journalists, Trump also defended the military campaign and praised the performance of US forces involved in the strikes. At one point,…

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has clarified that all schools and colleges across the province will remain open, dismissing rumours about the closure of educational institutions or a shift to online classes. In a statement, the minister said that there is no plan to suspend physical classes, urging the public and students not to pay attention to misinformation circulating on social media. He confirmed that both public and private educational institutions are operating as per schedule, adding that the provincial government intends to continue classroom learning without disruption. The clarification comes after speculation emerged about possible school closures and…

The federal government has significantly increased the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel by Rs55 per litre, citing a sharp surge in international oil prices triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to the Petroleum Division, the new prices came into effect from midnight, pushing petrol to Rs321.17 per litre and high-speed diesel to Rs335.86 per litre across the country. Officials said the increase was unavoidable as global crude oil markets have been under pressure due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has raised fears of supply disruptions in the region. Petroleum…

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday released previously missing FBI interview summaries from files related to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein case that include allegations made by a woman against former President Donald Trump. The documents are part of a broad public disclosure effort of materials tied to the Epstein investigation that has been ongoing since late 2025 under pressure from lawmakers and the media. Officials said the additional records were erroneously excluded from earlier releases because they were misclassified as duplicates. The newly available files include interview summaries from 2019 with a woman who alleged she was molested by Epstein…

Iranian forces launched overnight strikes targeting Manama, Bahrain’s capital, including the area housing the Israeli embassy at the Financial Harbour Towers. Bahraini authorities reported that an Iranian drone was intercepted near the complex. There are no confirmed civilian casualties from the embassy-area strike. Earlier, Iranian missiles reportedly struck Bahrain’s state-owned refinery, causing a blaze that was later contained by emergency services. Material damage to nearby residential and commercial buildings has been reported, though casualty details remain limited. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones over eastern and central regions, including…

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…