Author: EchoAsiaNews

Petrol price spikes linked to the ongoing war in Iran have led to a noticeable jump in used electric vehicle (EV) sales across Europe, as consumers respond to rising fuel costs, industry sources said on March 26. The conflict, which began on February 28 and has disrupted key global oil shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, has contributed to higher pump prices that are shifting consumer behaviour. Online car marketplaces reported that EVs have become increasingly popular in the used‑car segment, overtaking diesel models as the most sought‑after fuel type on some platforms. Analysts described the trend as…

Japan is considering an unconventional strategy to support its weakening currency by intervening in oil futures markets, government and market sources said on March 26. With traditional tools such as verbal intervention and direct currency market action losing effectiveness, policymakers are exploring the idea of using portions of the country’s $1.4 trillion foreign exchange reserves to take short positions in crude oil futures in a bid to push down energy prices and ease pressure on the yen. Officials believe that by dampening crude oil prices, which have been driven higher by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Japan could…

Iran has rejected a U.S.‑led peace proposal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war, describing the plan as “excessive” and unsuitable, according to Iranian officials. Tehran’s initial response was delivered to Pakistani intermediaries and is expected to be conveyed back to Washington for further consideration. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the response to the U.S. proposal, which reportedly includes a 15‑point framework for a ceasefire and political settlement, was not positive, and Tehran finds aspects of it unacceptable. Iran has instead outlined a set of its own conditions under which it would consider ending hostilities, though specific…

United States President Donald Trump will travel to China for a high‑profile summit with President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15, the White House announced on March 25. The trip, originally planned for late March, was postponed due to the ongoing war involving the United States and Iran. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the visit will now take place in Beijing in mid‑May, as officials finalize details for what has been described as a historic diplomatic engagement between the world’s two largest economies. Trump posted on social media that preparations are being completed and expressed optimism…

Light rainfall swept across Karachi on March 26, bringing relief from the intense heat as drizzle and cool winds were recorded in several parts of the city. The rain began in central areas, including Saddar, Clifton, M.A. Jinnah Road, and the Old City Area, before spreading to northern localities such as North Karachi, New Karachi, and Surjani Town. The showers were preceded by strong, gusty winds, while the rainfall remained light but caused a noticeable drop in temperature in multiple areas. No immediate disruptions were reported, although intermittent rainfall is expected to continue in parts of the city. The development…

Pakistani fintech firm Sadapay confirmed that its mobile application became unavailable for all users on Tuesday following a disruption at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre in Bahrain. The company said its infrastructure is hosted on AWS in Bahrain, and service disruptions began after drone strikes on March 1 linked to the ongoing US‑Israel war against Iran. The outage has prevented customers from accessing the app, though banking infrastructure and card transactions remain operational according to Sadapay’s official communication. The conflict, which began with US and Israeli attacks on Iranian targets, has caused broader instability in the Gulf region,…

Veteran Pakistani Qawwali singer Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and his son Shahzaman Khan were officially honoured at the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom during a ceremony highlighting cultural diplomacy and South Asian musical exchange. The event, organised by British‑Asian artist Raja Kaasheff, recognised the duo’s contributions to music and their role in connecting audiences across South Asia and the diaspora. A central feature of the gathering was the unveiling of a cross‑border Bangla duet titled “Prem Piyasha – Reloaded (Thirst for Love)”, a collaborative project involving artists from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and the UK. The song, which…

The federal government has announced an optional multi-tariff Time-of-Use (ToU) pricing mechanism for industrial electricity consumers. The initiative aims to align electricity costs with actual supply-demand patterns and encourage industries to use energy more efficiently, particularly during off-peak hours. Under the new framework, industrial users can opt into a system where electricity charges vary depending on the time of day. The mechanism includes fixed charges linked to the Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI), which discourages peak-period consumption, and variable energy charges that reflect the real cost of electricity at different times. Officials say this approach will help manage peak loads, reduce…

The club confirmed that Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the 2025–26 season, bringing an end to a glittering nine‑year career at Anfield that saw him become one of the most iconic figures in the club’s history. Salah’s departure was announced by the club on March 24, with his contract being allowed to expire, marking the conclusion of a period in which he helped Liverpool secure numerous honours including Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown. Salah, now 33, joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017 and quickly established himself as a talismanic figure, scoring…

At least 70 people, including seven women and 13 children, were killed in a deadly strike on El‑Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday. The attack, which occurred on Friday, has left the hospital’s outpatient and emergency departments severely damaged and the facility non‑functional, depriving more than two million people of critical medical services. The WHO’s deputy representative in Sudan, Hala Khudari, described the incident as an “atrocious attack on a healthcare facility,” warning that the assault on a civilian hospital exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation in the country. Hundreds more were…