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Recap: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open to commercial vessels for remainder of Lebanon truce

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But US naval blockade on Iran will remain “in full force” until deal with Tehran is struck, says Trump.

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BNB Diviyadhaarshini, Alessia Mah, Sherlyn Sim

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Published: Feb 28, 2026

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Trump.","ogDescription","jsonLd","{\"@context\":\"https:\\/\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"LiveBlogPosting\",\"@id\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/live-us-trump-israel-iran-attack\",\"headline\":\"Live: US, Israel, Iran crisis (Day 47)\",\"description\":\"\",\"coverageStartTime\":\"2026-04-15T06:00:00+08:00\",\"coverageEndTime\":\"2026-04-15T23:59:00+08:00\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\/\\/www.straitstimes.com\\/assets\\/ST-logo-default-aoeSLh4S.png\",\"width\":\"1228\",\"height\":\"96\"}},\"liveBlogUpdate\":[{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"The situation so far\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T23:34:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T23:38:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump \\u2013 promising an \\u201camazing two days\\u201d \\u2013 has indicated peace talks with Tehran could resume and end in a deal, even as the US turned the screws with a naval blockade that it said has cut off maritime trade with Iran.Mr Trump told the New York Post on April 14 that a new round of talks with Iran could take place in Pakistan \\u201cover the next two days\\u201d, after a marathon first negotiating session in Islamabad last week ended without a breakthrough.Here are some other latest developments:Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold direct negotiations following talks in Washington on Tuesday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had hailed as a \\u201chistoric opportunity\\u201d for peace.Israel\\u2019s spy chief said on Tuesday that the war in Iran had delivered a severe blow to the Iranian regime but that Israel\\u2019s mission would be complete only once the regime was replaced.The US Senate will vote on the latest Democratic-led effort to rein in US President Donald Trump\\u2019s war powers, and party leaders promised on Tuesday to keep bringing up such resolutions as long as the Iran war continues.A US destroyer interdicted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran on Tuesday \\u2013 a day after the American blockade went into effect \\u2013 and instructed them to turn around.Mr Trump, whose war and immigration policies have been condemned by Pope Leo, reiterated his criticism of the religious leader.Mr Trump also said he exchanged letters with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, suggesting the move was motivated by concerns over Beijing providing weapons to Iran. He also claimed Mr Xi \\u201cwrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he\\u2019s not doing that\\u201d.The US is set to send thousands of more troops into the Middle East in coming days as the Trump administration attempts to pressure Iran into a deal, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.Iran has started restoring limited internet connectivity to some businesses and individuals, a sign it is seeking to mitigate the economic damage from the nationwide shutdown that started with the outbreak of war with the US and Israel more than six weeks ago.Iran is considering a short-term pause to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid testing a US blockade and scuppering a fresh round of peace talks, reported Reuters. However, its military warned on Wednesday it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues.Senior UAE and Iranian officials held a call to discuss de-escalation on Wednesday, UAE state media reported, the first high-level call since ties deteriorated over the US-Iran war.The finance ministers of 11 countries - Australia, Finland, Ireland, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Britain - called on Wednesday for \\u201ccoordinated emergency support\\u201d to help countries hit by disruptions from the war in the Middle East.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"11 nations urge \\u2018coordinated\\u2019 economic support amid war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T23:16:16+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T23:16:16+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The finance ministers of 11 countries - Australia, Finland, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Britain - on Wednesday called for \\u201ccoordinated emergency support\\u201d to help countries hit by disruptions from the war in the Middle East.In a joint statement, the countries called on the IMF and World Bank to \\u201cprovide a coordinated emergency support offer for countries in need, tailored to country circumstances and drawing on the full range and flexibility of their toolkits\\u201d.\\u201cRenewed hostilities, a widening of the conflict or continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would pose serious additional risks to global energy security, supply chains, and economic and financial stability,\\u201d said the statement.\\u201cEven with a durable resolution of the conflict,\\u202fimpacts on growth, inflation and markets will persist.\\u201dREAD MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Rice prices in Asia soar as Iran war fallout threatens supply\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T22:45:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T22:46:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Rice prices surged the most in more than two years on concerns about the supply outlook after the costs of fuel and fertiliser jumped due to the Iran war, prompting some Thai farmers to leave their crop in the ground, Bloomberg reported.Thai white rice 5 per cent broken, an Asian benchmark, jumped 10 per cent to $423 a ton in the week ended April 8, the biggest gain since August 2023.Some farmers in Thailand have suspended rice cultivation because their profits simply are not enough to cover the ballooning costs, an analyst said. The challenging situation has been compounded by a long dry season, which has significantly reduced yields and tightened supplies of the current crop, he added.The analyst said a stronger baht and higher freight and insurance costs due to the war contributed to the jump in rice prices.Thailand is the third-largest exporter globally, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture.READ MORE HERE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran war revs up electric car demand in Asia\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T22:15:27+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T22:15:27+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Electric vehicle sales have jumped in South-east Asia as cost-conscious buyers have poured into dealerships looking to dodge the fuel price spikes driven by the Iran war.Asian nations have been particularly hard hit due to a sharp fall in the crude shipments they rely on \\u2013 and have few alternatives to replace them.Yet the energy crisis has been a windfall for Vietnam\\u2019s leading electric vehicle maker Vinfast as well as Chinese manufacturers.An office worker interviewed by AFP said her family owns a petrol-run car, but was considering buying an electric vehicle to save money.Crude oil prices have soared by around 50 per cent since the start of the Middle East war and again exceeded US$100 per barrel on April 13, driving up the cost at the pump.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: EPA \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Senior UAE, Iran officials discuss de-escalation in rare call\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T21:46:13+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T21:46:13+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Senior UAE and Iranian officials held a call to discuss de-escalation on Wednesday, UAE state media reported, the first high-level call since ties deteriorated over the US-Iran war.UAE Vice President and Deputy Premier Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan \\u201cheld a phone call with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which they discussed regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions in the region\\u201d.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Republican lawmakers face pushback from right-wing voters alienated by war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T21:15:17+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T21:15:17+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The New York Times reported that Republican congressman Mike Lawler endured a \\u201ccombative session\\u201d during an in-person town hall with constituents over the weekend. The session was an example of how Donald Trump\\u2019s war in Iran has created a worst-case political scenario for members of his party in the run-up to November\\u2019s midterm elections, in which the party is fighting to maintain its minuscule majority, it said.Having largely sat on the sidelines as Trump began the war without congressional authorisation, then abruptly announced a ceasefire and now is imposing a blockade \\u2013 sending energy prices soaring amid persistent economic anxiety \\u2013 Republican members of Congress like Mr Lawler are facing mounting questions from voters, who do not appear satisfied by the answers they are getting, reported NYTimes.Republican leaders in Congress have ceded much of their power to Mr Trump and refrained from exercising oversight of the Iran war in particular, and Mr Lawler is among the only Republican members of Congress who dared to hold an in-person session with constituents, it added.Other Republicans, including in deep red states and districts, have also faced pushback, as the war has alienated some right-wing activists and voters who oppose US involvement in foreign conflicts and exacerbated widespread economic stress.PHOTO: AFP \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran says exchanges with US continuing via Pakistan\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T20:56:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T20:56:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iran said on Wednesday that exchanges with the United States via Pakistan had continued following failed negotiations over the weekend.\\u201cSince Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan,\\u201d its foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a weekly press briefing.\\u201cToday, we are very likely to receive a Pakistani delegation as a continuation of the discussions in Islamabad,\\u201d he added. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Birkin bag maker Hermes hit as war deters shoppers from Dubai to Paris\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T20:45:18+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T20:45:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"French luxury group Hermes reported weaker than expected first-quarter sales, with shares sinking 14 per cent at the open on Wednesday as the Iran war hit spending in the Middle East as well as in Europe.Hermes, which caters to the ultra-wealthy with handbags over US$10,000 (S$12,700), said a drop in tourist numbers had hit sales in concession stores at airports and in the Middle East, as well as in Britain, Italy and Switzerland, where Gulf shoppers are a key driver.Hermes has been the most resilient company in an industry-wide slowdown, but even it was not immune to the conflict\\u2019s impact. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton and Kering earlier this week both reported sales were hit by the war.Meanwhile, duty-free stores such as DFS and Avolta selling premium perfumes and spirits to big spenders are also feeling the pinch as conflict in the Middle East shuts airports and curbs travel to the region, a setback likely to become more acute as the war drags on.Analysts have said a prolonged slump in Middle East air traffic could compound pressure on a travel-retail industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, squeezing underperforming businesses such as LVMH\\u2019s DFS and weighing on prestige beauty and luxury firms including Estee Lauder, Puig and L\\u2019Oreal.READ MORE HERE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran military warns it may block Red Sea if US blockade of Hormuz continues\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T20:15:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T20:25:33+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iran\\u2019s military warned on Wednesday it would block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues.In a statement carried by Iranian state television, the head of Iran\\u2019s military central command centre Ali Abdolahi said that if the US continues with its blockade and \\u201ccreates insecurity for Iran\\u2019s commercial vessels and oil tankers\\u201d, that it would constitute \\u201ca prelude\\u201d to violating the ceasefire.\\u201cThe powerful armed forces of the Islamic republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea,\\u201d he said.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump says Xi Jinping told him China is not sending weapons to Iran\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T20:00:19+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T20:00:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump said he exchanged letters with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, suggesting the move was motivated by concerns over Beijing providing weapons to Iran.\\u201cHe responded to a letter that I wrote because I had heard that China is giving weapons to \\u2013 I mean, you\\u2019re seeing it all over the place \\u2013 to Iran,\\u201d Mr Trump said in an excerpt from a Fox Business interview, which was taped Tuesday and aired Wednesday morning.\\u201cAnd I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he\\u2019s not doing that.\\u201dThe exchange of letters came ahead of a May 14-15 trip to Beijing that Mr Trump is slated to make for a high-profile summit with Mr Xi. That meeting comes as the relationship between the world\\u2019s two largest economies faces fresh strains from the Iran war, which pushed back their initial meeting.Mr Trump did not specify when the letters were sent in the brief excerpt aired Wednesday morning. He told reporters earlier this week that Mr Xi had not directly engaged him about the Iran conflict but added that he believed the Chinese president \\u201cwould like to see this ended also\\u201d.On Tuesday, Mr Xi made his first public statements on the conflict, telling Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that \\u201cthe international order is crumbling into disarray\\u201d. China has urged all parties in the conflict to show restraint. \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Any attempt to force Iran to surrender is \\u2018doomed to fail\\u2019, says president\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T19:45:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T19:59:29+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (centre) said on Wednesday that any attempt by other states to impose their will on Iran or force it to surrender is doomed for failure, according to the official news agency IRNA.Iran does not seek war and instability and always insists on dialogue and \\u201cconstructive\\u201d engagement with other countries, Mr Pezeshkian said in a meeting with a group of pre-hospital medical staff in Tehran.PHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran weighs pausing its Hormuz shipping to avoid derailing talks\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T19:15:10+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T19:15:10+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iran is considering a short-term pause to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid testing a US blockade and scuppering a fresh round of peace talks, reported Reuters, citiing to a person familiar with Tehran\\u2019s deliberations.The potential pause reflects a desire to avoid immediate escalation at a sensitive diplomatic juncture as Washington and Tehran sort logistics for another face-to-face meeting, which US President Donald Trump says could take place within days.The Iranian embassy in the UK and the foreign ministry in Tehran did not immediately respond to requests for comment.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"How China\\u2019s weapons transfers to Iran have evolved over decades\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T19:00:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T19:00:15+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"China\\u2019s approach to its military relationship with Iran is now drawing renewed attention after US officials said intelligence agencies were assessing whether China may have shipped shoulder-fired missiles to Iran in recent weeks.For much of the past two decades, China has maintained a delicate balance in that relationship with Iran, often offering indirect assistance instead of arms sales, the New York Times reported.Chinese arms sales to Iran exploded in the 1980s and have all but vanished in the past decade to comply with a United Nations embargo and US sanctions.Chinese support for Iran in recent years has instead come in the form of components that could be used in both civilian technologies as well as missiles and drones.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Government services in Malaysia operating as usual as civil servants start WFH policy\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T18:46:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T18:46:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Government services in Malaysia, particularly counter transactions, are operating normally nationwide as the work-from-home (WFH) policy for the federal public sector kicked in on Wednesday.Most government buildings and premises are now in a low-power state, with dimmer lights and just half the lifts in operation, with minimal staff in the office.Counter services are running smoothly, including critical services like the Immigration Department and police.The WFH implementation is the country\\u2019s response to the global energy crisis arising from the Middle East conflict and applies only to federal civil servants in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and state capitals living more than 8km from their office.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: ST FILE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Philippines' Marcos urges ASEAN to activate fuel-sharing pact \",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T18:16:04+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T18:16:04+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday called for the immediate activation and testing of the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), saying it should be implemented while there is an oil crisis due to the Middle East conflict.Speaking at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus online summit hosted by Japan, Mr Marcos said the Philippines could host or co-chair the first emergency simulation exercise for the fuel-sharing pact, saying the mechanism exists and it should be tested now.He also proposed a regional study on joint oil stockpiling.Mr Marcos added that the Philippines is accelerating the development of a government-controlled domestic strategic petroleum reserve, and wants fuel companies to have larger emergency reserves.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US to send thousands of more troops to the Middle East: Washington Post\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T17:50:36+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T17:50:36+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The US is set to send thousands of more troops into the Middle East in coming days as the Trump administration attempts to pressure Iran into a deal, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.In its article, which cited current and former officials on condition of anonymity, Washington Post said that about 6,000 troops will move into the region aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and several warships escorting it, with about 4,200 others expected to arrive near end-April, joining the 50,000 troops already there.Two US officials cited in the article also said that military officials are planning US ground operations on Iranian soil, in another potential escalation.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt would only say that Trump \\u201chas wisely kept all options on the table in the event that the Iranians will not forgo their nuclear ambitions and make a deal that is acceptable to the United States\\u201d, predicting that Iran\\u2019s \\u201cdesperation for a deal will only increase\\u201d with the blockade in effect.The Pentagon and US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, declined to comment.PHOTO: REUTERS \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"msazali\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iraq-bound tanker sails into Gulf after second attempt at Hormuz\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T17:38:18+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T17:38:18+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iraq-bound supertanker Agios Fanourios I has sailed into the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on its second attempt, making it the first crude carrier to head west since a US blockade on Iran\\u2019s ports came into force.Agios Fanourios I\\u2019s first attempt to head back into the Persian Gulf was cut short on Sunday when talks between US and Iran collapsed in Islamabad.Traffic through the chokepoint remains extremely limited, with tracking data showing a trickle of ships moving in both directions through the corridor on Wednesday.An armada of US warships, which aims to pressure Iran by curbing its oil exports, has been attempting to monitor and control traffic outside the strait in the Gulf of Oman, while Iran is wielding control over the strait.READ MORE HERE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sayheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Japan tourism hits record despite China spat, Iran war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T17:00:23+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T17:04:44+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Foreign tourists going to Japan hit a new record in March despite another huge drop in Chinese visitors, and a fall in those from the Middle East, AFP reported on Wednesday, citing official data.The number of international visitors was 3.6 million, up 3.5 per cent year-on-year, a new record for the month, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.Chinese visitors dropped 56 per cent to 291,600 \\u2013 Beijing warned people from visiting last year \\u2013 while those from the Middle East fell 30 per cent to 16,700 because of the Iran war.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Israeli army strikes south of Beirut as Hezbollah launches rockets at Israel\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T16:30:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T16:30:15+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Two Israeli strikes on Wednesday hit vehicles south of Beirut, state media reported, while Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel.The attacks come a day after Lebanon and Israel\\u2019s ambassadors to the United States held their first direct talks in decades in Washington and agreed to hold further direct negotiations, with the Lebanese envoy calling for a ceasefire. Hezbollah strongly rejected the talks.Lebanon\\u2019s state-run National News Agency reported two separate Israeli strikes on two vehicles, one in the seafront town of Saadiyat and another on a coastal highway in neighbouring Jiyeh, around 20km south of Beirut and outside Hezbollah\\u2019s traditional strongholds, as well as several other strikes across southern Lebanon.The Israeli military meanwhile said it had detected \\u201capproximately 30 launches\\u201d by Hezbollah militants towards Israel since the early hours, a spokesman told AFP. Hezbollah said it launched rockets at 10 northern Israeli areas.PHOTO: EPAREAD MORE HERE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ian Cheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran war promises green edge for Asia as plastic packaging runs short\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T16:00:13+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T16:00:13+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"An \\u2018eco-friendly\\u2019 range of paper tubes and pouches touted by Yonwoo, a South Korean maker of packaging for cosmetics, has reaped unexpected benefit from the Iran war, which has disrupted supplies of the plastic needed to turn out single-use wrapping.While the conflict has sent prices of plastic soaring to roughly four-year highs by choking off flows of the required raw materials of oil and petrochemicals, the company says it has fuelled inquiries three-fold for paper-based options.Across Asia, home to some of the world\\u2019s biggest plastic users and polluters, changes that environmental groups have sought for decades are quickly being adopted, even if they may prove a short-term flip.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"News analysis: US is negotiating an Iran deal that would buy time, again\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T15:40:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T15:40:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The history of America\\u2019s interactions with Iran is littered with efforts to buy more time.This comes amid the revelation that the US and Iran are arguing over the time period for suspending Iran\\u2019s nuclear activity, suggesting that there may well be room for a deal.Also, there were indications on Monday that negotiators may meet again in the coming days.Previously, to delay Iran from building a nuclear bomb, the US and Israel had used cyberweapons to make nuclear centrifuges self-destruct. Sanctions and diplomatic agreements have also been used to delay Iran\\u2019s programme.Another sticking point in the current negotiation centres on the US demand that Iran remove 440kg of near-bomb-grade uranium from the country, to ensure it could never be diverted to a bomb project.While Mr Trump weighed sending troops into Iran to secure the highly enriched uranium, Iran has offered to dilute it significantly so that it could not be used to produce a nuclear weapon.That, too, would extend the timeline to a bomb.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Russia can \\u2018compensate\\u2019 for China's resource gap from Iran war: Foreign Minister Lavrov\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T15:23:15+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T15:31:49+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Russia\\u2019s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country could make up for China\\u2019s energy shortages due to the disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, AFP reported, citing Russian state media.\\u201cRussia can, without a doubt, compensate for the shortfall in resources that has arisen\\u201d for China and \\u201cother countries that are interested in working with us\\u201d Mr Lavrov said at a news conference in Beijing, in response to a question about the Hormuz blockage.He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the first half of the year, Moscow\\u2019s TASS state news agency reported.Mr Lavrov is on a two-day visit to Beijing, and has met President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sayheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran offers limited internet in rare move to stem war losses\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T15:01:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T15:01:55+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iran has started restoring limited internet connectivity to some businesses and individuals, a sign it is seeking to mitigate the economic damage from the nationwide shutdown that started with the outbreak of war with the US and Israel more than six weeks ago.State-backed telecommunications firms are offering a \\u201cpro internet\\u201d package that businesses can apply for, according to digital rights group ASL19. This has led to a trickle of access to the outside world, several internet monitoring firms noted.The move follows comments from an Iranian official that domestic businesses were losing US$30 million to US$40 million a day due to the internet blackout. Indirect damages are as high as $80 million a day, said an Iran Chamber of Commerce official.The Iranian government blocked access to the web shortly after the US and Israel launched strikes against the country in late February. This cut off most Iranians\\u2019 ability to communicate with the outside world.Now in its seventh week, it\\u2019s the world\\u2019s longest nationwide blackout since the Arab Spring in the early 2010s.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sayheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Malaysia\\u2019s fuel subsidy bill swells to $2.26 billion in April due to Iran war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T14:40:12+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T14:40:12+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Malaysia\\u2019s government expects to spend about RM7 billion ($2.26 billion) on fuel subsidies in April, roughly 10 times more than what it was paying before the Iran war.Its Ministry of Finance said the total includes an additional RM75 million allocated to support three diesel assistance programmes as policymakers seek to cushion the impact of rising costs on consumers and industries.The subsidies amounted to RM700 million before the conflict, underscoring the growing fiscal strain from elevated energy prices.Malaysia heavily subsidises retail fuel prices, making them politically sensitive and a key tool for managing living costs. It has kept the price of RON95 \\u2013 the most popular grade of petrol \\u2013 at RM1.99 per litre, among the lowest in the world.The government said on Tuesday it would raise diesel subsidies for paddy farmers and increase monthly subsidy allowances for the agriculture sector.READ MORE HEREST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Pakistan PM Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey from April 15-18: Ministry\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T14:22:02+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T14:22:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Pakistan\\u2019s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is to embark on a four-day diplomatic blitz to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey on Wednesday, Islamabad\\u2019s foreign ministry said, as the country engages in feverish diplomacy ahead of a possible second round of US-Iran peace talks.\\u201cPrime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye from 15\\u201318 April 2026,\\u201d Pakistan\\u2019s foreign ministry said in a statement, using Turkey\\u2019s official name.The visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be conducted \\u201cin the bilateral context\\u201d, while in Turkey Mr Sharif will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and will hold bilateral meetings with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders on the sidelines, the statement said.????PR No.1\\ufe0f\\u20e30\\ufe0f\\u20e32\\ufe0f\\u20e3\\/2\\ufe0f\\u20e30\\ufe0f\\u20e32\\ufe0f\\u20e36\\ufe0f\\u20e3Curtain Raiser : Prime Minister\\u2019s Visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and T\\u00fcrkiye (15\\u201318 April 2026)????\\u2b07\\ufe0fhttps:\\/\\/t.co\\/O80lliee7O pic.twitter.com\\/x1lhwHS5To\\u2014 Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 15, 2026 \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Sri Lanka repatriates 238 stranded Iranian sailors: Minister\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T14:00:27+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T14:00:27+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors stranded in the South Asian country after one of their warships was torpedoed by a US submarine, a minister told AFP on Wednesday.Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena \\u2013 a frigate attacked on March 4 just off Sri Lanka \\u2013 and another 206 from the IRIS Bushehr left on Thursday.\\u201cA few sailors from the IRIS Bushehr are staying back to operate the vessel, but 206 joined those rescued from the IRIS Dena and returned home last night in a chartered aircraft,\\u201d Ms Jayasekara said.Official sources said 15 Iranian sailors will remain in Sri Lanka to operate the IRIS Bushehr, which is anchored off Trincomalee in the north-east of the island.The attack on the IRIS Dena killed 104 sailors, according to the Iranian authorities.The bodies of 84 victims were recovered and have been repatriated.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases, FT reports\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T13:40:26+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T13:40:26+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite, giving the Islamic republic a new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\\u2019 Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China, the report said, citing leaked Iranian military documents.The Iranian military commanders directed the satellite to monitor major US military sites, the newspaper said, citing time-stamped coordinate lists, satellite imagery and orbital analysis.The images were taken in March before and after drone and missile strikes on those locations, FT said.Reuters could not verify the report.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"How the US blockade of Iranian ports could impact China and India, with wider spillover effects\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T13:20:56+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T13:20:56+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The ongoing blockade by the US of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports risks inflicting more misery all around in the form of higher energy prices.Two of Asia\\u2019s largest economies \\u2013 China and India \\u2013 are likely to feel the impact differently, with ripple effects on global energy supplies.Multiple sources estimate that about 90 per cent of Iran\\u2019s crude oil exports end up in China.China will increasingly source from alternative suppliers if faced with tighter enforcement or logistical disruptions, said one analyst, which is expected to intensify competition for supplies among global crude oil importers, further driving up prices.This includes India, which sources over 80 per cent of its crude oil and roughly half of its natural gas needs from abroad. It is also the world\\u2019s second-biggest importer of liquefied petroleum gas.Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz \\u2013 accounting for one-fifth of the world\\u2019s oil and gas trade \\u2013 has fallen by nearly 95 per cent from more than 130 vessels a day since the war, with around 2,000 ships trapped in the area, according to the International Maritime Organization.The US blockade and potential retaliation from Iran, which has threatened to attack ports in the Gulf, could further worsen the crisis.READ MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Japan to provide $12.7 billion to South-east Asia to ease oil price strain\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T13:00:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T13:00:43+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Japan will provide a total of US$10 billion (S$12.7 billion) in financial support to South-east Asian nations struggling with surging crude oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East, Kyodo News reported on Wednesday, citing government sources.The assistance will mainly take the form of loans aimed at helping countries secure crude oil supplies, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to announce the plan during an online meeting with South-east Asian leaders later in the day, according to the sources.Japan imports petroleum-derived products from South-east Asia, including items used at medical facilities.Many countries in the region maintain limited oil reserves, so there have been concerns that supply shortages could eventually affect shipments to Japan. The surge in oil prices has also raised concerns in some South-east Asian countries over their ability to pay for imports.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Ship \\u2018spoofing\\u2019 in Strait of Hormuz may compound confusion\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T12:40:04+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T12:40:04+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Maritime intelligence experts are starting to see a new pattern of \\u201cshadow\\u201d activity in waters in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the US naval blockade on vessels coming in and out of Iranian ports went into effect Monday, the New York Times reported.It suggested that more ships seem to be adopting tactics to avoid detection than during the previous weeks of war.Under international maritime law, most large commercial vessels must travel with a transponder that automatically transmits information such as the ship\\u2019s name, location and route.Vessels in Middle Eastern waters that are now trying to hide their location or are otherwise falsifying information are employing methods that have been perfected by Russian \\u201cshadow fleet\\u201d vessels evading sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, some experts say.By manipulating the global system meant to illuminate ship movements, so-called ghost or shadow vessels may compound confusion about the state of the Strait of Hormuz, even if in the end they cannot breach the American blockade.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Not thinking about extending ceasefire with Iran: Trump tells ABC News\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T12:20:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T12:20:08+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl on Tuesday he was not thinking about extending the ceasefire with Iran because he does not think it will be \\u201cnecessary\\u201d.\\u201cI think you\\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,\\u201d Mr Trump said.Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, the US President said on Tuesday, after the collapse of negotiations between the US and Iran last weekend prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.The lack of an agreement also raised doubts over the survival of the two-week ceasefire that still has a week to run.Mr Trump was then asked if the war would end with a deal, or \\u201cdo you say, look, we knocked out their capability and that\\u2019s it?\\u201dMr Trump replied: \\u201cIt could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild.\\u201cThey really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals. They\\u2019re gone, no longer with us.\\u201dPresident Trump told me today he isn't thinking about extending the ceasefire. He doesn't think it will be necessary.\\\"I think you\\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,\\\" he said. \\\"I really do.\\\"I asked if the war ends with a deal, or \\\"do you just say, look, we\\u2026\\u2014 Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) April 15, 2026 \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Trump continues criticism of Pope Leo in social media post\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T12:00:06+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T12:00:06+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump continued his criticism of Pope Leo in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, pointing out that Iran has killed many of its own citizens in recent times.In the post, he said: \\u201cWill someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.\\u201dIt is the latest salvo by Mr Trump, after the pontiff emerged in recent weeks as a growing critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran.On Tuesday, Pope Leo warned of the risk of democracies sliding into \\u201cmajoritarian tyranny\\u201d, in a letter issued by the Vatican.The text, released as the pope was undertaking an ambitious, 10-day tour of four African countries, did not directly address the US or name any specific democracies.Mr Trump sharply criticised Pope Leo as \\u201cterrible\\u201d on Sunday night, but the pontiff told Reuters on Monday that he planned to keep criticising the war, despite Mr Trump\\u2019s comments.PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM REALDONALDTRUMP\\/TRUTH SOCIAL\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"News analysis: US-Indonesia defence ties upgrade: What Jakarta hopes to gain\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T11:40:07+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T11:40:07+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Indonesia and the United States have inked a new defence partnership, described by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as \\u201cmajor\\u201d. For watchers in the American capital, this looks like yet another move in the big-power contestation for influence in Asia.Yet, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto likely sees it as something else: an affirmation of his view that major powers must reckon with the country\\u2019s strategic position, and a chance to raise the country\\u2019s standing, Indonesia Bureau Chief Arlina Arshad writes.The new Major Defence Cooperation Partnership, announced on Monday, comes just over two years after both countries inked a historic Defence Cooperation Agreement. The MDCP goes beyond the 2023 agreement in broadening ties in military modernisation, training and exercises, while opening the way for future cooperation in maritime, undersea and autonomous systems.For Indonesia, access to American expertise could help close gaps that procurement alone cannot fix.Yet Jakarta has long avoided reliance on any one power. It has ordered Rafale fighter jets from France, signed for Turkish KAAN jets, bought American Black Hawk helicopters, and considered American F-15EX fighters.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Length of Iran uranium enrichment ban is a political decision, says IAEA chief Grossi\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T11:20:14+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T11:20:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday a decision on how long a moratorium on uranium enrichment that Iran must be bound by under any agreement with the US was a political decision.US and Iranian officials ended talks at the weekend on ending the Iran war, without agreement over differences that included how long Tehran would suspend uranium enrichment, which the US and the West say would be used to build weapons.The US wanted a 20-year moratorium on all nuclear activity by Iran, but Iran counter-proposed a suspension of up to five years.Under a previous nuclear accord in 2015, Iran was allowed gradually more enrichment activity till 2030, when all restrictions would be lifted.US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018, calling it a \\u201chorrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made\\u201d.PHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Thai embassy in Tehran urges Thais to prepare for evacuation\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T11:05:27+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T11:05:27+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The Thai Embassy in Tehran has issued an urgent, highest-level security alert, warning Thai nationals in Iran to prepare for immediate evacuation after its latest assessment found the situation had become extremely fragile and at high risk of a new wave of attacks in the near future.In an announcement issued on Tuesday, the embassy said its latest assessment suggested talks between Iran and the United States were highly likely to fail.The embassy warned that once the two-week ceasefire ends, or if negotiations collapse altogether, there is a very high possibility that a new round of attacks could break out soon and that the violence could be even more severe than before.It said southern Iran remained in a critical and highly dangerous condition, particularly areas along the Persian Gulf coast and near the Strait of Hormuz, including Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan and the city of Bandar Abbas.READ MORE HERE \",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sayheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Sanctioned tanker turns back to Strait of Hormuz, day after Gulf exit\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T10:14:45+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T10:49:59+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The US-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry made its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Gulf the day before, shipping data showed, failing to break through a US blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports.US President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to reach a deal.\\u201cDuring the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade,\\u201d the US Central Command said on X, adding that six vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port.The Chinese-owned tanker was among at least eight ships crossing the waterway on Tuesday, the first day of the US blockade.A US destroyer stopped two oil tankers attempting to leave the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, a US official said.The Rich Starry and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping, were placed under US sanctions for dealing with Iran.\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"sayheng\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Up to 200,000 public servants to work from home as Malaysia rolls out policy amid energy crisis\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T10:30:03+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T10:30:03+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Up to 200,000 public servants in Malaysia will be involved as the work-from-home directive starts on Wednesday, said its government\\u2019s Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.The Chief Secretary to the government said approval to work from home will be at the discretion of individual department heads, based on operational needs and job suitability.The Malaysian government has approved a three\\u2011day\\u2011a\\u2011week WFH arrangement for ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies, aimed at cutting fuel use and reducing govern\\u00adment operating costs as a proactive response to the global energy crisis.However, the policy applies only to public servants in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and all state capitals who live more than 8km from their offices, and excludes those in the security, defence, health and education sectors.READ MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Iran war wipes out global oil demand growth in 2026, IEA says\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T09:45:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T09:45:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Global oil demand will decline this year for the first time since the 2020 pandemic as a price surge caused by the Middle East conflict wipes out growth, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.\\u201cThe Iran war has thoroughly upended the global outlook for oil consumption,\\u201d the adviser to major economies said in its monthly report. \\u201cDemand destruction will spread as scarcity and higher prices persist.\\u201dThe conflict has choked off oil flows through the Persian Gulf\\u2019s vital Strait of Hormuz, triggering what the IEA has called the biggest supply disruption in history. Surging prices for physical crude and products such as jet fuel, diesel and petrol are squeezing consumers and taking a toll on demand.Last month, the Paris-based IEA oversaw the release of a record 400 million barrels from emergency oil reserves by members including the US, Japan and Germany in an effort to tame spiralling costs.Flows of crude oil and refined products through the Strait of Hormuz have been reduced to just 3.8 million barrels a day, compared with pre-crisis levels of about 20 million \\u2013 or roughly 20% of world supplies, according to the agency.But, for at least one country, soaring energy prices have been a boon. Russia\\u2019s oil and oil product export revenues nearly doubled, to US$19 billion (S$24 billion) in March from US$9.75 billion in February.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Israel\\u2019s spy chief addresses criticism about the war with Iran\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T09:31:09+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T09:31:09+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Israel\\u2019s spy chief David Barnea said on Tuesday that the war in Iran had delivered a severe blow to the Iranian regime but that Israel\\u2019s mission would be complete only once the regime was replaced, the New York Times reported.In rare public remarks, broadcast from a ceremony marking Israel\\u2019s Holocaust Remembrance Day on Tuesday, Mr Barnea, the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, appeared to address domestic criticism that Israel had not achieved its war goals. In particular, many Israelis have expressed disappointment that Iran\\u2019s power structure has survived.Mr Barnea also appeared to push back against recent accusations that he may have oversold a plan to ignite a swift, internal uprising against Iran\\u2019s theocratic government early in the fighting \\u2013 a revolt that might have brought the war to a quick end.Speaking for the first time about the 45-day US-Israeli military campaign in Iran, Mr Barnea justified it as a war \\u201cof necessity\\u201d. With Mossad\\u2019s support, he said, Israel had carried out \\u201can unprecedented assault that delivered a severe blow\\u201d to an Iranian leadership that had \\u201cpledged to destroy us\\u201d.He added that Mossad had operated \\u201cin the heart of Tehran\\u201d but provided few details.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: ARASH KHAMOOSHI\\/NYTIMES\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Fertiliser shortages due to Iran war are a key worry for developing world, UN agency says\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T09:15:22+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T09:15:22+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Fertiliser shortages due to the Iran war are a pressing concern for developing countries and gains from rising oil and gas prices for developing world producers are likely to be short-lived, the head of the United Nations trade agency said on Tuesday.Executive director of the International Trade Centre Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: \\u201cThe more immediate issue is fertiliser, because that then affects food security and food security is always the basis for stability.\\u201dShe added that oil and gas could be secured from other places so the situation was \\u201cnot as dire\\u201d even if price hikes were a problem.Ms Coke-Hamilton, whose agency focuses on promoting trade for developing countries, noted that a third of global urea would normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran and the US are blockading.The UN said on Monday that a diplomatic push was under way on a UN-led proposal to ensure safe passage for fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.READ MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Aid groups use land routes to deliver humanitarian relief to Iran\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T09:00:14+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T09:00:14+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"International humanitarian groups said on Tuesday they had sent emergency relief through overland routes to Iran, some of their first deliveries of aid since US-Israeli strikes began in late February.Aid workers say needs are high in the wake of six weeks of strikes, but stocks of emergency humanitarian supplies became stuck in Dubai warehouses as shipping and air routes were blocked by the expanding conflict.The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it had delivered some 200 trauma kits as well as tents and blankets on trucks sent along a new route from Turkey. The trucks crossed the Iranian border on Sunday and were set to arrive in Tehran on Tuesday.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US destroyer interdicts two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran, official says\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T08:46:17+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T08:47:02+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"A US destroyer interdicted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran on Tuesday \\u2013 a day after US President Donald Trump\\u2019s blockade went into effect \\u2013 and instructed them to turn around, a US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.The ships had left Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman and were contacted by the warship via radio communication, the official said. It was unclear whether any further warnings were given.The US official said the two tankers were among the six merchant vessels the US Central Command said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that had followed orders to \\u201cturn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman\\u201d.The disclosure adds further detail to the start of Mr Trump\\u2019s blockade, which aims to pressure Iran to end its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for about 20 per cent of the world\\u2019s oil.US Central Command said no ships have made it past the blockade since it went into effect on Monday at 10am in Washington (10pm Singapore time).READ MORE HERE\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"World Bank could provide up to $127 billion in funds for countries hit by war, president says\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T08:30:08+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T08:32:57+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The World Bank could mobilise US$80 billion (S$102 billion) to US$100 billion in funding over the next 15 months for countries hit hard by the war in the Middle East, eclipsing the US$70 billion it provided during the Covid-19 pandemic, the bank\\u2019s president Ajay Banga said on Wednesday.That would include US$20 billion to US$25 billion in the coming months through a crisis response window that allows countries to withdraw up to 10 per cent of funds earlier than planned from previously approved programmes. Another US$30 billion to US$40 billion could come from repurposing existing programmes in about six months, he said.If the war lasted longer and greater needs emerged, the bank would have to turn to its balance sheet and headroom to find additional funding to reach the US$80 billion to US$100 billion, Mr Banga said. That would come on top of the bank\\u2019s normal lending.Mr Banga\\u2019s comments, on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, reflect growing recognition of the huge impact the war is already having on global growth and inflation, with developing countries likely to be hit the hardest.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"alessiamah\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"\\u2018Unreliable partner\\u2019: US Treasury chief Bessent accuses China of hoarding oil during Middle East war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T08:15:11+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T08:15:11+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said China had been an unreliable global partner during the Middle East war by hoarding oil supplies and limiting exports of some goods, mirroring its actions with medical goods during the Covid-19 pandemic.Mr Bessent told reporters he had spoken with Chinese officials about the issue.He took China to task for its actions during the US-Israeli war in Iran, which sent oil prices up 50 per cent and triggered supply chain disruptions.\\u201cChina has been an unreliable global partner three times in the past five years; once during Covid, when they hoarded healthcare products, second on rare earth,\\u201d Mr Bessent said, referring to Beijing\\u2019s threat in 2025 to curb rare earth exports.Now it was stockpiling more oil instead of helping ease the global demand shortage caused by Iran\\u2019s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20 per cent of the world\\u2019s oil, he said.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US Democrats will try, and try again, to rein in Trump\\u2019s Iran war powers\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T08:00:19+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T08:00:19+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"The US Senate will vote as soon as today on the latest Democratic-led effort to rein in US President Donald Trump\\u2019s war powers, and party leaders promised on Tuesday to keep bringing up such resolutions as long as the Iran war continues.In a Senate speech on Tuesday, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said: \\u201cForty-five days into this war, Congress has been sidelined because our Republican colleagues refuse to take a strong stand against this war and duck it completely because they\\u2019re afraid of Trump.\\u201dCongressional Democrats have tried and repeatedly failed in recent months to pass war powers resolutions to force Mr Trump to stop military action and obtain lawmakers\\u2019 authorisation before launching military operations, in both Venezuela and Iran.Democrats are attempting to link their efforts to rein in Mr Trump on Iran to affordability, as disruptions in shipments of oil and natural gas have caused a run-up in US petrol prices and agricultural products such as fertilisers \\u2013 on top of the long list of other high consumer prices.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Treasury chief Bessent says US growth may exceed 3% or 3.5% in 2026 despite Iran war\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T07:45:59+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T07:45:59+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that the underlying US economy remained strong and that growth could still exceed 3 per cent or 3.5 per cent in 2026 despite the impact of the US-Israeli war withIran.He has cast cuts in global growth forecasts and higher inflation projections by the International Monetary \\u200cFund (IMF) and World Bank as an over-reaction. The IMF on Tuesday cut its growth outlook due to Iran war-driven energy \\u200bprice spikes.\\u201cI think the underlying economy remains strong,\\u201d Mr Bessent said during the Wall Street Journal Opinion Live event in Washington. \\u201cI do think that the growth could easily exceed 3 per cent, 3.5 per cent this year, still.\\u201dThe war has raised oil prices and shaken markets globally. It has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20 per cent of global oil and natural gas exports were shipped through the strait before the war.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: ERIC LEE\\/NYTIMES\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Lebanon, Israel agree to direct negotiations after \\u2018historic\\u2019 Washington talks\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T07:30:40+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T07:30:40+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold direct negotiations following talks in Washington on Tuesday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had hailed as a \\u201chistoric opportunity\\u201d for peace.The two countries have technically been at war for decades, and Tuesday\\u2019s talks were opposed by the militant group Hezbollah, which dragged Lebanon into the Middle East conflict by attacking Israel in support of its backer, Iran.The US is pressing for a halt to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing it could derail the two-week ceasefire in Washington\\u2019s war with Iran after talks with Tehran in Pakistan failed to achieve a breakthrough.Tuesday\\u2019s meeting in Washington \\u2013 the first high-level, direct talks since 1993 \\u2013 was mediated by Mr Rubio and involved the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: AFP\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"The situation so far\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T07:00:55+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T07:21:23+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US President Donald Trump told the New York Post on Tuesday that peace talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days.Gulf, Pakistani and Iranian officials also said negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, though one senior Iranian source said no date had been set.People familiar with the matter said the goal is to hold fresh talks before a two-week ceasefire announced on April 7 expires next week. One idea is to return to Islamabad for a second round, though other venues have also been discussed, they said.While the US blockade drew angry rhetoric from Tehran, signs that diplomatic engagement might continue helped calm oil markets, pushing benchmark prices below US$100 on Tuesday.Oil held a drop, with the US and Iran looking to arrange a second round of peace talks in the coming days, as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continued to impede energy supplies vital for the world economy.The Trump administration will allow a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea to expire later this week, two sources told Reuters, as the US blockade on shipments from Iranian ports takes effect.The US military said no ships have made it past the US naval blockade of Iran\\u2019s ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back.Here are other key developments: The European Union plans to reduce electricity taxes and expand clean technologies faster to cut consumers\\u2019 exposure to soaring oil and gas prices, as part of its plan to offset the Iran war's energy impact, a draft document showed. The Iran war was meant to deliver a defining victory over Tehran that would secure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\\u2019s place in history. More than six weeks into the conflict, he has been unable to translate military might into political gain.Discussions led by Britain and France of steps to open the Strait of Hormuz will include possible financial sanctions on Iran if it keeps the vital waterway blocked, and steps to work with industry to resume shipping.Mr Trump told an Italian newspaper on Tuesday he was \\u201cshocked\\u201d by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, delivering a blunt public rebuke to one of his closest European allies. Ms Meloni had been a vociferous supporter of Mr Trump, but she has criticised his decision to go to war with Iran, and on Monday, denounced his weekend criticism of Pope Leo as \\u201cunacceptable\\u201d.PHOTO: ARASH KHAMOOSHI\\/NYTIMES\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}},{\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"US V-P Vance says mistrust between US and Iran cannot be solved overnight\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-15T07:16:54+08:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-15T07:16:54+08:00\",\"articleBody\":\"US Vice-President J.D. Vance said on Tuesday that there was a lot of mistrust between Washington and Tehran that cannot be resolved overnight but he added that Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal and that he felt \\u201cvery good about where we are\\u201d.Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiations \\u200bprompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran still has a week to run. Mr Vance was involved in the talks last weekend in Pakistan.\\u201cThere is a lot of, of course, mistrust between Iran and the United States of America. You are not going to solve that problem overnight,\\u201d Mr Vance said during a Turning Point USA event.Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal, he said. \\u201cI feel very good about where we are\\u201d, Mr Vance added.READ MORE HEREPHOTO: REUTERS\",\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"The Straits Times\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"daniellai\"}}]}","keywords","Iran, Israel, US, attack, war, Donald Trump, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Middle East, missiles, strikes, Iran news, live coverage, flight cancellations, Singapore, Singaporeans Middle East, live updates, latest, Iran news, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Dubai flights, gold, dollar, flights, oil, petrol prices, Trump live, Trump speech today, Trump address, blockade","robots","index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1","gaData",{"_228":229,"_230":21,"_231":21,"_20":232,"_233":234,"_235":236,"_237":238},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_Trump_says_Iran_war_should_end_'soon',_both_sides_may_meet_at_weekend","title_ga","Live: Trump says Iran war should end 'soon', both sides may meet at weekend","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","additionalVariants","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]