US-Iran war updates: Anthony Albanese secures 100 million litres of diesel from Brunei, South Korea

Australia and Malaysia have backed Pope Leo’s call for peace and an end to conflict in the Middle East, after President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked the Pontiff for speaking out about the number of innocent people being killed in the Iran war.

At a joint press conference with Anthony Albanese, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said any “reasonable or sane person” would back the Pope’s plea for global peace.

“Well, Albanese is a Catholic, I’m a Muslim, but we share something in common: we have very high regard and respect for Pope Leo. He expressed the voice of conscience.”

“We have followed the Pope’s recent statements and share his desire for peace, for justice, and for an end to atrocities,” Mr Anwar said standing next to his Australian guest.

Mr Albanese, who is visiting Malaysia as part of a tour of Asia focussed on fuel security, said he was honoured to have had an audience with Pope Leo a year after his inaugural Mass.

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Oil prices edged lower in early trade today as optimism grew over a possible new round of talks to end the Middle East war.

Brent crude fell 44 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $US94.49 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 70 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to $US90.59.

The dip came after the White House said it was “optimistic” about renewed negotiations with Iran.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has provided an update on how many fuel stations are dry as of Thursday.

NSW: 56 service stations without diesel while 13 service stations have no unleaded fuel.

Victoria: 18 with no diesel, 10 with no unleaded.

Queensland: 35 with no diesel, 17 with no unleaded.

SA: Four with no diesel, 14 with no unleaded.

WA: 10 with no diesel, 26 with no unleaded

Tasmania: 11 with no diesel, 22 with no unleaded.

NT: Three with no diesel, one with no unleaded.

ACT: Zero with no diesel, one with no unleaded.

The United Nations refugee agency has called for urgent action amid reports that 1 million Lebanese people are displaced.

Barham Salih, the agency’s chief, has called on world leaders to provide immediate support and relief.

“Lebanon does not deserve to be trapped in a recurring cycle of violence, it deserves support and stability,” Ms Salih said, according to AFP.

Heaving fighting has continued in Lebanon on Thursday morning in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, as Hezbollah fighters clash with Israeli forces.

Lebanon’s National News Agency says heavy fighting erupted in the early hours of the morning in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, as Hezbollah fighters clashed with Israeli forces.

According to the report, Israeli warplanes and helicopters were deployed during the exchange, with sporadic fighting continuing at the town’s entrances and along the al-Mihaniyah axis.

The NNA said Israeli forces also demolished a number of homes near the entrance to Bint Jbeil’s Grand Market.

Separately, Israeli jets carried out an airstrike on the nearby town of Tebnine, with reports claiming the local hospital suffered significant damage.

The Prime Minister has announced Australia has secured 100 million litres of additional diesel imports, which will come via new shipments from Brunei and from South Korea under new export finance regulations.

Details of the shipments have been revealed by Anthony Albanese following formal talks in Kuala Lumpur with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim focussed on ensuring energy supplies between both nations during the oil crisis.

In a joint statement signed inside the Malaysian government’s Perdana Putra complex, the leaders have agreed to a “no surprises” policy on the trade of critical oil and fuel supplies.

“The world looks very different to when you were here last year… Global energy markets are under serious stress,” Mr Abrahim said at a joint press conference following their formal talks.

“Malaysia will always be a reliable partner to Australia”, the Malaysian Prime Minister assured his Australian guest.

The South-East Asian nation is Australia’s third-largest fuel supplier, providing 14 per cent of its diesel, 10 per cent of its petrol and 11 per cent of its jet fuel.

In exchange, Australia provides almost all of Malaysia’s liquified natural gas imports but Asian nations are concerned the Albanese government could introduce new export taxes on resources in next month’s Budget.

Australia’s aviation sector is nervously awaiting updates on the impact of a fire at the only oil refinery in Australia that produces fuel for jets and smaller planes.

The blaze at Viva Energy’s facility in Geelong in Victoria couldn’t come at a worse time, with both of the nation’s major airlines Qantas and Virgin this week deciding to trim domestic capacity as the Middle East conflict sends jet fuel prices soaring.

Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway said it was a serious incident but fortunate no injuries had been reported.

“We understand jet fuel production at the facility is continuing at reduced levels,” Mr Westaway said.

“Australia’s aviation sector sources jet fuel from a range of suppliers, with the majority of refined fuel coming from offshore.

“Australian airports will continue to monitor the situation closely and are continuing to engage with the Federal Government to ensure jet fuel supply is maintained.”

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Reuters reported that the empty Very Large Crude Carrier RHN entered the Gulf on Wednesday, maritime intelligence data from LSEG and Kpler showed.

It was not immediately clear where the VLCC, which is capable of carrying two million barrels of oil, is heading.

Finance ministers from 11 countries have issued a joint warning urging calm in the Middle East.

The coordinated statement — signed by nations including the UK, Japan, Sweden and Australia — called on the US, Israel and Iran to respect the truce reached last week.

“The past weeks have brought unacceptable loss of life and significant disruption to the global economy and financial markets,” the statement said.

It stressed the ceasefire was critical to protecting civilians and stabilising the region after weeks of escalating conflict.

Other signatories - including Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Poland and Finland - also pressed for a lasting diplomatic solution and the restoration of safe, free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministers warned that any renewed fighting or disruption to the key shipping route would pose “serious additional risks” to global energy supply, inflation and financial stability.

Australia’s share market got off to a sluggish start, creeping lower despite rising hopes that the US and Iran were keen to solve the Middle East conflict.

The S&P/ASX200 lost 22.2 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 8,957, as the broader All Ordinaries fell nine points, or 0.1 per cent, to 9,172.1.

The local bourse shrugged off record highs on Wall Street overnight following reports Washington and Tehran were looking to extend a two-week ceasefire to provide more time to reach a peace deal.

“Hope springs eternal in the markets and the prospect of an extended ceasefire and eventual peace deal between the US, Israel and Iran has helped push Wall Street to an unlikely record high,” Capital.com senior market analyst Kyle Rodda said.

Viva Energy was placed in a trading halt after a significant fire broke out at its Geelong Refinery in Corio on Wednesday night.

The facility, which suppliers more than 50 per cent of Victoria’s fuel and 10 per cent nationwide, is still running on reduced production rates and the extent of damage caused by the fire isn’t yet known, Viva said in a statement.

Competitor Ampol spiked more than 2.5 per cent in early trade, before easing to a 09.4 per cent advance of $33.27.