Key occasions
Bahrain state oil firm declares drive majeure after refinery assault – studies
Bahrain’s state oil firm Bapco has declared drive majeure on its shipments after Iran attacked the nation’s solely oil refinery, information studies are saying.
Final week Qatar – the Gulf’s largest liquefied pure fuel producer – suspended exercise at its amenities on Monday and declared force majeure on fuel exports on Wednesday, releasing it from contractual obligations to its prospects.
Hezbollah says it’s combating Israeli forces who landed in east Lebanon
Hezbollah mentioned on Monday it was combating Israeli forces who landed in jap Lebanon by helicopter throughout the Syrian border, the second such operation because the outbreak of the most recent battle with Israel.
Hezbollah mentioned it detected “the infiltration of roughly 15 Israeli enemy helicopters” from the Syrian facet of the border in jap Lebanon, an space the place Hezbollah holds sway.
The Iran-backed militant group mentioned in its assertion that its fighters “engaged the helicopters and the infiltrating drive with acceptable weapons” and that the confrontation was ongoing, the AFP information company reported.
Lebanon’s state-run Nationwide Information Company earlier mentioned there have been “fierce clashes… in direction of the outskirts of the city of Nabi Sheet to repel Israeli forces that carried out a touchdown by helicopters” within the space.
Two Hezbollah officers within the Bekaa area, the place Nabi Sheet is positioned, advised AFP that an Israeli helicopter was downed.
The Israeli military didn’t instantly touch upon the incident.
It was the second such raid after an Israeli commando operation in Nabi Sheet and its surrounding areas in a single day on Friday failed to seek out the stays of Ron Arad, an airman lacking since 1986. The combating left three Lebanese troopers and 41 residents of the Bekaa valley lifeless, based on the Lebanese military and ministry of well being.
Donald Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are planning to journey to Israel on Tuesday and meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, based on an Axios reporter.
Barak Ravid’s post on X cited a “US official and a supply with information”.
The plan is but to be formally verified.
Saudi Arabia condemns ‘reprehensible’ Iranian assaults on Gulf states
Saudi Arabia has condemned what it calls Iran’s “reprehensible” and unjustifiable aggression in opposition to the dominion and different Gulf states.
The Saudi overseas ministry mentioned in a statement on X:
The Ministry of International Affairs renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions in opposition to the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, plenty of Arab and Islamic international locations, and pleasant nations, which can’t be accepted or justified below any circumstances.
The Kingdom affirms its full proper to take all measures that make sure the safety of its safety, sovereignty, and the security of its residents and residents, and to discourage aggression.
Nick Visser
Greater than 2,200 Australians have arrived again house since Center East battle began.
As of this morning, greater than 2,200 Australians have returned to the nation through business flights from the Center East.
A number of flights from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are arriving or anticipated to reach every day into numerous Australian airports, after a collection of lengthy airspace closures.
The federal government remains to be encouraging Australians overseas to register with the Division of International Affairs and Commerce’s disaster portal if they’re in Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon or the UAE.
Vietnam is contemplating a plan to scrap tariffs on gasoline imports, the federal government mentioned, because the US-Israeli conflict with Iran disrupts oil provides and pushes costs to their highest stage since 2022.
The ministry of finance mentioned it had drafted a decree that might slash import tax charges to zero on some petroleum merchandise to “assist stabilise the home market and guarantee nationwide vitality safety”.
It mentioned in an announcement on Sunday:
If the battle continues and the blockade of the strait of Hormuz persists, different provides on the worldwide market will turn out to be scarce and threat driving costs up.
The AFP information company additionally studies that because the conflict started greater than per week in the past with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, costs of gasoline in Vietnam have risen sharply and the federal government has applied emergency pricing protocols.
Thick smoke is rising from the route of the Bapco oil refinery in Bahrain, a witness has simply been quoted as saying.
Earlier on Monday Bahrain mentioned an Iranian drone assault on the island of Sitra injured 32 people in a single day.
Gulf international locations have been reporting new strikes as Iran continues retaliatory assaults throughout the area.
Jack Snape
Their ahead was as soon as suspended when her head scarf slipped off throughout a purpose celebration. They’re the ladies of the Iran soccer staff, who’re on the centre of a world diplomatic incident, even because the US and Israel rain missiles down on their household again house.
The staff stays in a resort on Australia’s Gold Coast, the place they performed their third and last match of the Ladies’s Asian Cup on Sunday. Their departure from Australia is imminent, even when it’s not clear whether or not they wish to go.
Fears are held for their safety in the event that they return to Iran. The gamers had been dubbed “wartime traitors” by a state-linked commentator, who referred to as for them to be “handled extra severely”, after they did not sing the nationwide anthem of their first Asian Cup recreation.
In subsequent matches not solely have the gamers sung – or at the least mouthed the anthem’s phrases – they’ve saluted.
Have been they to remain in Australia, they face chopping off ties from their household and pals, who could also be then susceptible dwelling below a regime that has already killed tens of thousands. Backlash may lengthen to teammates, different footballers, and out via neighborhood networks nonetheless dwelling in Iran.
It’s a torrid selection, however one the gamers could have for less than hours extra.
The complete story is right here:
Callum Jones
Continued from earlier submit:
My colleague Rebecca Ratcliffe reported last week on efforts by the Philippines to preserve vitality. Authorities workplaces have been advised to undertake versatile work preparations, and to set air-con items no decrease than 24 levels. A presidential palace spokesperson mentioned a four-day working week may be thought of, particularly if the Center East disaster worsened, native media reported.
Different south-east Asian international locations are additionally introducing energy-saving measures, Rebecca famous. In Thailand, the defence ministry suggested companies below its management to chop again on the usage of air-con, and to make use of video conferencing to keep away from pointless journey.
In Myanmar, in the meantime, navy rulers have banned half of personal autos from the roads, saying that from this weekend even-numbered plates will probably be permitted to drive solely on even dates and odd-numbered plates solely on odd dates.
Callum Jones
Why does the massive rise in oil prices really matter? The surge to $100 per barrel may really feel a bit summary – until you’re in a rustic scrambling to cope with an vitality provide crunch.
Issues over the strait of Hormuz, which has now been in effect closed for a week, have been compounded by studies of oil manufacturing cuts throughout the Center East. Asian markets are significantly susceptible right here: they relied on the Center East for 59% of their crude oil imports final 12 months, based on analytics agency Kpler.
In Bangladesh, Reuters studies that every one universities will probably be closed from Monday, bringing ahead the Eid al-Fitr holidays as a part of emergency measures to preserve electrical energy. Officers mentioned the transfer wouldn’t solely cut back electrical energy consumption but additionally ease visitors congestion, which results in gasoline wastage.
In South Korea, the nation’s president has simply introduced a transfer to cap home gasoline costs for the time in nearly three a long time. The present disaster “is a major burden on our economic system, which is very depending on world commerce and vitality imports from the Center East”, mentioned Lee Jae Myung.
Continued subsequent submit
Qatar arrests greater than 300 over alleged ‘deceptive info’
Qatar says 313 folks of various nationalities have been arrested over allegations of inciting public concern amid the US-Israeli conflict on Iran.
The arrests had been carried out as a part of “ongoing efforts to watch and tackle the misuse of social media platforms”, the Qatari inside ministry mentioned in a press launch posted on X.
It mentioned:
The arrests had been made for filming and circulating unauthorized video clips, spreading deceptive info and rumours, and disseminating content material supposed to incite public concern, in violation of official directives.
The inside ministry additionally mentioned it “stresses the significance of refraining from filming, publishing video clips or circulating rumours associated to the present scenario, and calls on the general public to acquire info solely from accredited official sources”.
