Author: EchoAsiaNews

BERLIN: More than a third of the additional debt Germany incurred in 2025 under a constitutional exemption for defence and security spending was effectively used for other purposes, according to an analysis by the Ifo Institute published Thursday. Government spending covered by the sectoral exemption rose from €54.6 billion in 2024 to €72.2 billion in 2025, an increase of €17.6 billion. However, additional borrowing under the exemption amounted to €28.6 billion in 2025. Ifo calculated that around €11 billion of this additional debt did not result in additional defence and security spending, equivalent to a 38.5% misappropriation rate. Ifo researcher…

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s six-month military campaign against Iran is increasingly drawing comparisons with the prolonged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, raising concerns that Washington could become trapped in another open-ended Middle East conflict. Trump entered his second term promising to act as a “president of peace” and avoid foreign wars. But his campaign against Iran has developed into a prolonged conflict marked by repeated attacks, economic pressure and growing regional instability. US officials argue that the Iran campaign is fundamentally different from the post-9/11 wars because Washington has relied primarily on air and naval power rather than large…

KARACHI: Pakistan received a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment from Qatar on Thursday after the LNG carrier Al Marrouna, carrying around 81,936 metric tonnes of LNG, docked at Port Qasim after transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The cargo was shipped from Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal under Pakistan’s government-to-government LNG arrangement with Qatar. The vessel crossed the strategically important waterway on September 7, amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over disruptions to Gulf energy shipments. The arrival provides temporary relief for Pakistan’s energy sector as parts of the country continue to experience electricity load-shedding of between six and 12 hours.…

LONDON: British drinks maker Fever-Tree reported a 9% increase in first-half adjusted core profit, helped by a return to growth in its UK business and strong summer demand for its ginger beers and Mexican lime sodas. The company reported adjusted core profit of £20.1 million ($27.24 million) for the first half, up from £18.4 million a year earlier. UK revenue increased 3%, supported by strong consumer demand, market-share gains and favourable summer weather. Fever-Tree said trading remained strong through the summer and that it was confident of meeting full-year market expectations. How did Fever-Tree perform in the US? The United…

BERLIN: Germany’s military is evaluating 30 artificial intelligence tools as it seeks to accelerate battlefield decision-making, with a prototype expected by the second quarter of 2027 and full implementation targeted for 2028, a senior military official said. Vice Admiral Thomas Daum, head of Germany’s military cyber command, told Handelsblatt that the evaluation of the AI systems is ongoing and expressed confidence that a prototype could be ready in the second quarter of next year. The initiative reflects growing military interest in AI as modern battlefields generate increasing volumes of data from drones, satellites, surveillance systems and other sources. The German…

LOS ANGELES: Billie Eilish has sparked renewed speculation that she could contribute original music to the upcoming film adaptation of The Bell Jar after completing filming for the project. The 24-year-old singer is reportedly being linked to the movie’s soundtrack, although neither Eilish nor the filmmakers have officially confirmed that she will write or perform music for the film. Eilish was previously rumoured to be working on songs for The Bell Jar alongside her brother and longtime collaborator Finneas. Those reports were never officially confirmed, but speculation has resurfaced following the completion of production. Could Billie Eilish release new music…

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has returned to Pakistan after concluding a private visit to Britain, where he spent more than a week in London and underwent several medical check-ups, according to sources. The Presidency confirmed his return on Thursday. Zardari departed for Britain on August 27 for the private visit, his first trip to the country in around six years. During his stay, he did not participate in political activities or hold formal political meetings, according to sources. Before leaving London, Zardari spoke to Geo News about his health and said he was doing well. Asked about his condition,…

CALGARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Canada, saying strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and preparing for the coming winter would be key priorities during his visit. Zelenskiy said he was scheduled to hold important meetings and discuss agreements aimed at supporting Ukraine as it continues to face the war with Russia. During the visit, Zelenskiy is expected to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as Kyiv seeks continued international support for its defence and energy needs ahead of winter. The Ukrainian president’s visit comes as Ukraine continues to press allies for additional air-defence capabilities to protect cities and critical infrastructure…

YENAGOA: Nigeria’s upstream oil regulator has warned investors developing projects to capture and commercialise gas from oil-producing sites that they could lose their permits if they fail to make sufficient progress. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it will review awarded gas-flaring sites one year after permits are granted and may revoke awards where project development remains inadequate. NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan said stronger regulatory enforcement is aimed at ensuring investors deliver projects that generate economic value, create jobs and reduce emissions. Under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, investors are being encouraged to capture gas that…

MOLDOVA: The aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was delayed in Moldova after authorities temporarily closed the country’s airspace following a drone alert, while Norway’s prime minister said the plane was nearly struck by a drone as it prepared to depart. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told broadcaster NRK on Wednesday that Zelenskiy’s aircraft was “almost hit by a drone” while taking off from Moldova. He did not identify the source of the information or disclose how close the drone came to the aircraft. Moldovan authorities confirmed that the country’s airspace was temporarily closed after two Russian drones entered…