Author: EchoAsiaNews

Russia has launched an evacuation of its citizens from Cuba following a severe jet fuel shortage that has disrupted airline operations across the island. Russia’s civil aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, said on Wednesday that Rossiya Airlines and Nordwind Airlines would operate outbound-only return flights from Havana, Varadero, Holguín, and Cayo Coco to Moscow to repatriate Russian tourists currently stranded in Cuba. Rosaviatsia added that, after completing these evacuation flights, the airlines would temporarily suspend all regular services to Cuba due to fuel shortages. Authorities cited difficulties in refueling aircraft at Cuban airports, making normal flight operations impossible. Approximately 4,000–5,000 Russian tourists…

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Defense to purchase electricity from coal‑fired power plants, a move aimed at supporting the struggling coal industry and ensuring reliable power for military installations. The order does not specify the amount of electricity to be bought or the cost of the contracts. As part of the initiative, the Department of Energy will allocate $175 million to upgrade six coal plants in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia. The administration says the investment will extend plant operations, strengthen the electricity grid, and provide baseload power…

A drone strike hit a mosque in the al‑Rahad area of North Kordofan state early Wednesday, killing two children and wounding at least 13 others, mostly children, according to local medical sources. The mosque, Sheikh Ahmed al‑Badawi, was hosting children studying the Quran at dawn when it was struck. The Sudan Doctors Network, a local medical monitoring group, attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in the ongoing conflict with Sudan’s regular army. There has been no immediate comment from RSF leadership. Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023 following a…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to discuss ongoing U.S. diplomacy with Iran. The nearly three-hour closed-door session focused on Tehran’s nuclear program and regional activities, following recent indirect talks held in Oman. Trump described the meeting as “very good” but confirmed that no definitive agreement was reached on a strategy for handling Iran. He reiterated that U.S.–Iran negotiations would continue, emphasizing diplomacy as the primary approach while keeping military options on the table. Netanyahu pressed Trump to broaden negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support…

Polls have opened across Bangladesh under heavy security as the country holds its first parliamentary election since the 2024 uprising that removed long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power. Over 127 million voters are registered, with youth aged 18–35 making up nearly half of the electorate, reflecting widespread hopes for democratic change after years of political unrest and street protests. The election is being closely watched as a test of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions. Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely considered the frontrunner. Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh after nearly two decades abroad, has pledged to tackle corruption and restore…

A senior security official on Wednesday strongly criticised Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai over what he termed “unfortunate” and “factually incorrect” remarks about the Pakistan Army, intensifying a political row that began during a recent parliamentary session. Achakzai had described the army as a “force of four districts” while addressing the lower house, drawing sharp reactions from treasury members. Responding to the statement while speaking to journalists in Lahore, the security official said dialogue was the right of all political parties but insisted that the armed forces had no role in politics. He emphasised…

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education advocate Malala Yousafzai has announced the opening of applications for the Malala Yousafzai Scholarship under the Oxford Pakistan Programme, a fully funded initiative enabling Pakistani women to pursue master’s and higher degrees at the University of Oxford. In a message shared on social media, Malala reflected on her own journey at Oxford and said it was important for her to support girls who have struggled for their right to education and aspire to continue their academic pursuits. She noted that the scholarship is designed to assist talented Pakistani women who wish to study at…

Several high-profile international cricketers went unsold during the historic first-ever player auction for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), held at the Expo Centre in Lahore on Wednesday. Among the biggest names overlooked were England batters Dawid Malan and Jason Roy, along with Australia’s seasoned opener Usman Khawaja. The franchises opted to revamp their squads under a new bidding structure, prioritising different combinations of international and domestic talent ahead of PSL 11, which is scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 3. A number of prominent overseas stars also failed to attract bids. These included…

A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge has left nine people dead and at least 27 others injured, in one of the deadliest school attacks in recent Canadian history. The violence began on February 10 at a private residence before moving to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, authorities said. Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a local resident. Investigators said the suspect fatally shot two family members at a nearby home before entering the school and opening fire. A teacher and five students, aged 12 to 13, were killed at the school. The suspect later died from what authorities…

Pakistan’s automotive sector recorded a surge in sales in January, with cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs reaching 23,055 units, a 43-month high. This represents a 36% year-on-year (YoY) increase and a 74% rise compared to December 2025. Cumulative sales for the first seven months of FY26 rose 43% to 111,377 units, up from 77,686 units during the same period last year. Analysts attribute the strong monthly spike to new-year registrations, as buyers often delay deliveries to secure January registrations for better resale value. Industry players also benefited from new market entrants, easing inflation, lower interest rates, and improved macroeconomic sentiment.…