Author: EchoAsiaNews

United States President Donald Trump said the United States does not need support from the United Kingdom’s aircraft carriers in its ongoing war with Iran, signaling tensions between the longtime allies. Trump made the remarks on social media after reports that Britain was considering sending two aircraft carriers, including HMS Prince of Wales, to the Middle East amid escalating conflict in the region. In his post, Trump said the United States had already gained the upper hand in the conflict and dismissed the potential deployment of British naval forces. He added that Washington did not need partners “that join wars…

Saudi Arabia has warned Iran not to launch attacks against the kingdom, cautioning that any such action could trigger retaliation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The warning was reportedly conveyed during diplomatic communication between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart. Saudi officials emphasized that while Riyadh supports diplomatic solutions to regional tensions, it would respond if Iranian strikes targeted Saudi territory or critical infrastructure. The message comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following recent missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran against targets across the Gulf region. Several countries hosting U.S.…

At least two police officials were martyred and several others injured in a bomb blast that struck a busy market in Wana, Lower South Waziristan, on Saturday. According to police officials, the explosion occurred in Rustam Bazaar when a police patrol was passing through the market area. The blast, reportedly caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), targeted the police personnel on duty. As a result of the explosion, two policemen were killed on the spot while multiple people, including civilians and security personnel, sustained injuries. Rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals for…

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…