It’s not just Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has spotted a similarity between the Covid-19 pandemic and the current global oil crisis fuelled by the US-Israeli war on Iran. Countries across Asia are weighing up work-from-home policies and stimulus measures enforced during the pandemic as they scramble to respond to global fuel shortages triggered by the war in the Middle East. "I think it is a good idea," South Korean energy minister Kim Sung-whan said on Tuesday when asked about an International Energy Agency (IEA) recommendation for people to work from home. "We will consult with relevant ministries and actively consider measures for work-from-home,” energy minister Kim told a briefing. Cost-of-living reliefSome countries have turned to stimulus measures as rising fuel costs bite into household budgets.

Source: The Telegraph March 25, 2026 07:58 UTC