Author: EchoAsiaNews

A missile struck the helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Saturday morning, Iraqi security officials said, causing smoke to rise above the sprawling diplomatic facility but with no immediate reports of casualties. Video footage circulating on social media showed a column of smoke emanating from the embassy grounds in the fortified Green Zone, a high‑security district that houses government institutions and foreign missions in Iraq’s capital. Two Iraqi security officials told the Associated Press that the missile impact occurred inside the compound near the helipad area, but details about the extent of damage were not released. An…

Yemen’s government has rejected newly imposed war‑risk shipping surcharges after international shipping companies notified importers of additional fees of about $3,000 per container bound for Yemeni ports, officials and traders said on Saturday. The move is raising fears of higher food and goods prices in the war‑torn country. Shipping firms have historically applied smaller “war‑risk” fees on vessels entering Yemeni waters, but the recent jump to roughly $3,000 per container has prompted strong pushback from the internationally recognised government in Aden. Transport Minister Mohsen al‑Amri said he instructed that existing ships already at Yemeni ports or inbound should not pay…

Pakistan all‑rounder Hussain Talat was taken to hospital after suffering a shoulder injury while fielding during the second One‑Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh at the Sher‑e‑Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday, March 13, 2026. The incident occurred on the second delivery of the sixth over of Bangladesh’s innings when Talat sprinted to stop a ball struck by Bangladesh batsman Litton Das off Mohammad Wasim Jr. in the cover region. In the effort to prevent a boundary, Talat collided with advertising equipment and landed awkwardly on his shoulder, appearing to be in significant discomfort. Medical staff attended to him on the…

Pakistan’s security forces successfully intercepted and downed two rudimentary drones near Rawalpindi on Friday, authorities said, as tensions persist along the country’s western frontiers. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) briefing, the drones were detected in the airspace near Rawalpindi and neutralized using electronic countermeasures before they could reach any populated or strategic locations. The ISPR confirmed that no casualties or damage occurred. The Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on its official social media platform that the drones belonged to the terrorist group Fitna‑al‑Khawarij, which Islamabad has described as being nurtured by the Afghan Taliban regime. Authorities…

Six U.S. service members were killed when a KC‑135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Friday. The aircraft was flying over what U.S. officials described as friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, a campaign supporting U.S. military operations in the region. CENTCOM said the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, and the exact circumstances remain under investigation. The KC‑135 Stratotanker, a long‑serving aerial refueling aircraft, was part of a mission involving two refueling tankers; a second aircraft landed safely after the incident, CENTCOM said. Officials have…

The United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials, the US State Department said. The reward has been issued under the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme, which seeks information on individuals Washington accuses of involvement in global terrorism. According to US officials, the offer targets 10 senior figures associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation. Among those named are Mojtaba Khamenei, Interior Minister Eskandar…

Germany’s wholesale prices rose 1.2 percent year‑on‑year in February 2026, extending an upward trend in producer price inflation, data from the federal statistics office showed on Friday. The increase follows similar gains in preceding months and reflects persistent price pressures in parts of the economy. The wholesale price index measures the cost of goods sold by producers before they reach retailers and consumers. A sustained rise in these prices can signal inflationary trends further down the supply chain, potentially feeding into broader consumer price inflation if sustained. The latest figures continue a pattern of moderate increases in producer price inflation, reflecting…

Pakistan says it is playing a “bridge‑builder” role among regional capitals amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, maintaining open channels of communication with both Gulf states and Iran while urging restraint and diplomatic engagement, government officials said. At a weekly briefing on 13 March 2026, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated Islamabad’s position that its approach is anchored in international law, respect for sovereignty, the UN Charter, and non‑use of force, and that Pakistan continues to emphasise dialogue over escalation. He said Pakistan’s principled stance is respected in capitals across the region, enabling it to facilitate communication between…

Iran’s newly appointed Mojtaba Khamenei delivered his first public statement on 12 March 2026, vowing to seek retaliation for “martyrs” and maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically raising the stakes in the ongoing Middle East conflict. His remarks were issued via state media and marked his first comment since assuming leadership following the assassination of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in late February. In the statement, attributed to Khamenei and broadcast on state television, Iran pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as a strategic lever against the United States and Israel, emphasizing resistance…

Two oil‑laden vessels carrying an estimated 100 million to 120 million litres of fuel safely reached Karachi Port on Friday under the escort of the Pakistan Navy, marking an important development amid global fuel supply concerns and regional maritime security risks, officials confirmed. The ships, operated by the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, were escorted from Fujairah to Karachi by naval units conducting Operation Muhafiz‑ul‑Bahr, a maritime security initiative launched to safeguard national shipping and critical sea lanes amid rising regional tensions following recent attacks on commercial vessels. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar expressed gratitude to the Pakistan…