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Live‘An amazing two days ahead’: Trump says ceasefire extension not necessary

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Israel’s spy chief, meanwhile, said the military campaign in Iran is a war ‘of necessity’.

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Alessia Mah, Daniel Lai, Ian Cheng

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Published: Feb 28, 2026

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days ahead': Trump says ceasefire extension not necessary","ogTitle","twitterTitle","slug","Meanwhile, Israel's spy chief David Barnea has appeared to address public criticism that it has not achieved its war goals.","ogDescription","Meanwhile, Israel's spy chief David Barnea has appeared to address public criticism that it has not achieved its war goals","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\":\"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",{"_223":224,"_225":21,"_226":21,"_20":227,"_228":208,"_229":230,"_231":232},"level2","23","chapter1","chapter2","Live:_'An_amazing_two_days_ahead':_Trump_says_ceasefire_extension_not_necessary","title_ga","pagination","1","contenttype","live blog","additionalVariants","dependentPaths",[],"actionData","errors"]