Author: EchoAsiaNews

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,…

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, has publicly pledged to continue fighting Israel, rejecting Lebanese government efforts to disarm the group. Speaking to supporters, Qassem framed the confrontation as a defensive response to Israeli attacks, insisting that Hezbollah’s armed resistance remains legitimate. He emphasized that the group will persist “to the furthest limits” against what it calls Israeli aggression, signaling a firm refusal to scale back its military activities. Israeli forces have intensified airstrikes across southern Lebanon, targeting what they describe as Hezbollah command centers and military infrastructure. These operations have resulted in significant civilian casualties, with dozens reported killed and…

The federal government is considering a suite of COVID‑era style remote work and online learning measures as part of a national energy‑conservation strategy, officials said. The proposals would reduce physical attendance in offices and educational institutions to help lower energy and fuel consumption nationwide, sources told media. Under the plan being discussed by a high‑level cabinet committee, schools and universities may shift to online classes beginning March 2026, while corporate and IT sectors could adopt hybrid or fully remote work schedules. Government offices would be directed to keep only essential staff physically present, with others working remotely. The deliberations follow…

New Zealand booked their place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final after a commanding nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the semi-final on Wednesday. South Africa, unbeaten in seven matches leading up to the clash, posted 169/8, only to see their total chased down with eight balls to spare. The standout performance came from Finn Allen, who smashed the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history, reaching 100 off just 33 balls. Allen was ably supported by Tim Seifert, who contributed 58 runs, ensuring New Zealand’s smooth and dominant chase. Coach Shukri Conrad described South Africa’s defeat as a “bloody walloping”…