China’s Xi urges faster development of new energy system
Chinese president Xi Jinping has called for accelerated planning and construction of a new energy system to safeguard the country’s energy security, weeks into the Iran war that has triggered global energy shocks.
The leader of the world’s second-largest economy also emphasized hydropower development and ecological protection, while urging the safe and orderly expansion of nuclear power, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“The Party Central Committee has gained a profound grasp of global energy development trends and made major decisions by advancing the new energy security strategy in depth,” he said, referring to the ruling Communist Party’s center of authority.
Malaysian commercial vessel allowed to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Malaysia’s foreign ministry today said that one of seven Malaysian commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has been allowed to pass and is now heading to its destination.
The ministry said this followed diplomatic talks with Iranian officials led by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia reaffirmed its support for safe and open sea routes under international law, the foreign ministry said in a statement. It called for continued dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain shut
A key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to the island of Bahrain has been shut this morning over threats of an Iranian attack.
Vehicle movements on the King Fahd Causeway have been “suspended as a precautionary measure” over Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the authorities said.
The 25km-long bridge is the only connection by road for Bahrain.
Iran frees Japanese national held in Tehran
A Japanese national detained in Iran has been “released on bail, Tokyo confirmed this morning.
“The Japanese embassy in Iran has confirmed that a Japanese national who was detained by Iranian authorities on 20 January was released on 6 April local time,” government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said, without identifying the detainee.
“The ambassador in Iran directly met that person after release and confirmed they were in good health,” Kihara told reporters.
It is understood that the Japanese national freed by Iran was public broadcaster NHK’s Tehran bureau chief Shinnosuke Kawashima, who was arrested in Iran and transferred to a local prison in January.
At the time, NHK said “there is nothing we can answer at this stage” and that staff safety was a top priority.
Japan’s government later confirmed a Japanese national had been detained in Iran and that it had been in contact with the person’s family and Iranian authorities.
According to Kyodo news agency, the Japanese national won’t be able to leave Iran as he still faces a security-related charge.
New Zealand says US threats against Iranian infrastructure ‘unhelpful’
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has described Donald Trump’s recent threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure as “unhelpful”
“Unhelpful because more military action’s not necessary,” Luxon told Radio New Zealand.
“I think the bottom line is that the focus needs to be on not seeing this conflict expand any further,” Luxon said.
“We got threats from the president over the weekend. Any of those actions including bombing bridges and reservoirs and civilian infrastructure would be unacceptable as well,” Luxon added.
New Zealand foreign minister Winston Peters’ message to US secretary of state Marco Rubio at a meeting in Washington, scheduled this week, would be to de-escalate the conflict, Luxon said.
Watch: Trump claims Iranians ‘want to hear bombs’ go off as ‘they want to be free’ in bizarre new rant
US President Donald Trump has claimed Iranians “want to hear bombs” go off as “they want to be free” in a bizarre new rant.
Trump said Iran has killed 45,000 of its own people who protested against the government. That number has not been verified.
Iran drone strike kills two in Iraq
Two people were killed in the Kurdish region of Iraq after a home was hit by a drone that authorities said had been launched from Iran.
The drone hit the home in the village of Zargazawi in Irbil province early this morning, the Counter Terrorism Directorate of the northern Kurdish region said in a statement. Officials condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law.
The strike came as Iranian forces and allied militias targeted areas across northern Kurdistan with a wave of drones, rockets and missiles.
Fire erupts at Saudi Arabia’s industrial hub after drone strike
Fire erupted at Saudi Arabia’s Al Jubail industrial city after it was struck by Iranian missiles and drones, according to reports.
Ballistic missiles struck Al Jubail’s eastern province, triggering large fires at petrochemical facilities, according to visuals shared by the Fars news agency, which has ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
People walk among buildings destroyed in a joint attack by Israel and the UN in Tehran
Oil at $110 per barrel
Global stocks wavered this morning, while oil prices were perched near $110 per barrel as the prospect of escalation in the war in the Middle East and the looming deadline for a deal to be reached kept nervous investors on the sidelines.
Brent crude futures rose 0.4 per cent to $110.19 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 0.8 per cent to $113.31.
