News
Iran's largest steelmaker Mobarakeh halts all production after second strike
Iran's largest steelmaker Mobarakeh Steel halted all production and sent workers home after a second US-Israeli strike caused "fundamental destruction" to its Isfahan complex, crippling a key non-oil export sector.
Trump vows to bomb Iran 'back to the stone ages' in rambling primetime address
Trump's first primetime address on the Iran war drew fire from all sides after he vowed to bomb Iran "back to the stone ages," sent oil surging past $105 and admitted he no longer cares about Iran's buried uranium stockpile.
Seoul shares fall 4.5%
Trading volume reached 1.42bn shares, valued at KRW32.95 trillion ($21.72bn), with 814 stocks declining and 90 rising.
Nigeria exports 950,000 barrels of new Cawthorne blend crude in first lifting from FSO terminal
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has exported 950,000 barrels of a new Cawthorne blend crude, marking the first lifting from the FSO Cawthorne facility — Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal in 50 years.
Ethiopia secures $13.1bn in deals led by $10bn Ming Yang investment into green ammonia project
Ethiopia has signed investment agreements and MoUs worth $13.1bn, including a $10bn planned investment by a Chinese company in green ammonia production and electrical equipment manufacturing projects.
Bulgaria says no immediate threat from Iran after warning over US military presence
Politician reveals diplomatic note said Tehran “reserves the right to take all necessary measures” after US military refuelling aircraft parked at Sofia airport.
Jurong Island’s output cut triggers $1.64 petrol spike in Australia
Singapore’s reclaimed oil refining region, the 32-square-kilometre Jurong Island, has become the primary driver of record-high petrol prices in Australia as Middle East supply shocks ripple through the Asia-Pacific energy corridor.
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Indonesia's Bitung struck by magnitude 7.6 quake
A magnitude 7.6 tectonic earthquake struck southeast of Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, triggering small tsunami waves across coastal areas, the National Disaster Management Agency reported on April 2
China opposes Philippines renaming South China Sea features
Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Manila's plan to rename more than 100 maritime features in the Nansha Qundao on April 2, vowing to defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
Erdogan lobbies Fico in campaign to lift EU sanctions on Uzbek tycoon Usmanov
Media outlet publishes full text of letter written to Slovak PM by Turkish president.
Armenian PM strikes combative tone in talks with Putin
Policy rifts over elections, security ties and Armenia’s geopolitical direction on show at joint press conference.
$2bn World Bank loan to eliminate Bosporus bottleneck in China-Europe trade corridor breakthrough
INRAIL project also a boost for commerce aross Central Asia, Caucasus and Middle East.
Lithuania’s PM downplays concerns over Nato unity after Trump’s threat to dump alliance
US president suggested Washington could reconsider its membership of Nato after the alliance declined to support his military action against Iran.
Gulf interest, market jitters and EU delays shape Ukraine’s defence industry outlook
Ukraine’s defence sector is drawing growing interest from Gulf states but the push to attract investment comes against a backdrop of deteriorating sentiment.
Ust-Luga and Primorsk to their lowest levels since pre-war time
Russia has lost over $1bn in oil export revenues Ukraine’s week-long attacks on its two most important Baltic Sea ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk. Weekly shipments through both ports have fallen by two-thirds.
Gazprom Export sues former German trading subsidiary SEFE in Russian court
Gazprom Export filed a lawsuit in St Petersburg against its former German trading subsidiary SEFE, the latest in a series of Russian court actions against European energy firms since Western sanctions severed gas ties.
Israeli strikes kill family of four in southern Lebanon as ground invasion widens
Israeli strikes killed a family of four in Nabatieh and five in Beirut's Jnah district on April 1 as Lebanon's death toll since March 2 rose to 1,268, with Israeli forces expanding ground operations in the south.
Is Trump going to abandon the Iran war?
Is US President Donald Trump the war in Iran? Having failed to meet any of his as yet unstated objectives trump is clearly frustrated and contemplating giving up on an unwinnable war.
UK's Starmer convenes military planners to secure Strait of Hormuz after fighting ends
UK PM Starmer announced military planners would draw up options to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the war, saying "this is not our war" but its economic impact on Britain demands action on Gulf maritime security.
Iranian cruise missile strikes oil tanker in Qatari waters
An Iranian cruise missile struck an oil tanker leased to Qatar Energy in Qatari waters on April 1 after two others were intercepted, escalating Tehran's targeting of Gulf energy assets as the war enters its second month.