The ongoing war in the Middle East has triggered an energy crisis for the world and “no country is immune” to its shockwaves, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned on Monday. Addressing the National Press Club in Australia’s capital, Birol said the current situation has evolved into an unprecedented disruption, combining multiple shocks to oil and gas supplies.“This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” he said. He also drew comparisons with the oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Highlighting the broader economic risks, Birol said, “The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible.”Commenting on the fallout of the energy crisis, Fatih Birol said, “no country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” adding, “so there is a need for global efforts.”The conflict has already caused extensive damage to energy infrastructure, with Birol noting that at least forty facilities across nine countries in the region have been “severely or very severely damaged”.“At least forty… energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries,” he said.The disruption was intensified by the near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The standoff has deepened as the war entered its fourth week, with Donald Trump and Tehran issuing repeated threats, including Washington’s demand for the reopening of the waterway.Birol identified the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as the most critical step towards stabilising the situation, while also flagging rising fuel shortages in Asia as a growing concern. Oil markets reflected the strain, with US benchmark crude briefly touching the $100-per-barrel mark early on Monday. As fuel prices continue to rise, he added that there would not be any specific crude level to trigger another release.He added that the agency is currently consulting governments worldwide and remains prepared to release additional oil from emergency reserves if needed, though he clarified that no specific price level would automatically trigger such a move. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, warning of military consequences if it failed to comply. He said, “If Iran doesn’t fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” In response, Tehran warned, signalling that any attack on its energy infrastructure would prompt retaliation beyond conventional military targets. The message was conveyed by Ebrahim Zolfaghari and carried by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. He said any strike on Iran’s fuel and energy sector would trigger action against a broader range of targets linked to the United States and its regional allies.Earlier this month, 32 member nations of the IEA agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves to the market, to deal with the ongoing energy supply disruption.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned the use of high-octane fuel in all government vehicles, with the decision taking effect immediately, the Prime Minister’s Office announced on Monday.

The ban comes with the decision to increase the petroleum levy on high-octane fuel.

Under a notification issued for this purpose, the levy on high-octane has been raised by Rs200 per litre to Rs305.37 per litre, pushing the new price of High Octane Blending Component (HOBC) in the country to Rs535. The decision to increase the levy from Rs100 to Rs300 per litre was taken in a meeting chaired by the prime minister.

Under the new ban, if the use of high-octane fuel in any government department’s vehicle is unavoidable, the user may do so at their own personal expense. A strict ban has been imposed on its use at government expense.

Read: Govt increases Rs200 levy on high-octane fuel for luxury cars to ease crisis

The purpose of the decision, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, is to ensure the efficient and responsible use of national resources.

PM Shehbaz directed all federal departments, authorities, and subordinate institutions to ensure immediate and full implementation of the ban. He also directed the relevant authorities to devise an effective system to monitor compliance and to take strict action in case of violations.

Read More: PM Shehbaz says rejected advice to further raise fuel prices, govt to absorb burden

Earlier, a 50% reduction in fuel for government vehicles had already been implemented, along with the grounding of 60% of government vehicles. The savings achieved through these measures have been utilised to provide relief to the public and to supply cheaper fuel.

The prime minister said that strict implementation of the austerity policy and the reduction of unnecessary expenditures are the need of the hour, adding that this step will reduce government spending and enable better use of public resources.

The government on Sunday approved a significant Rs200 per litre increase in the fuel levy on high-octane used in luxury vehicles, in a move to cope with the fuel crisis amid Middle East tensions.

Also Read: Govt urges public to adopt further austerity measures, cooperate to conserve energy amid Mideast fuel crisis

According to a statement issued by the PMO, Shehbaz, chairing a video-link meeting, announced that the levy of Rs100 per litre on high-octane fuel would be raised by an additional Rs200, bringing the total levy to Rs300 per litre.

The government expects the measure to save Rs9 billion per month, with the savings earmarked to provide relief to the general public.

The statement further clarified that the increase applies only to high-octane fuel used in luxury cars. Petrol prices for ordinary vehicles, as well as fares for public transport and air travel, will remain unchanged.

A major beauty brand is enticing all its UK employees to earn a cut of any sales they drive on TikTok Shop in a bid to cash in on the rapid rise of the influencer-led beauty market.

MAC Cosmetics is kitting out shops with mini studios for its makeup artists to host live shopping shows when it launches on TikTok Shop on April 2.

It says it is the first major beauty brand in the UK to give every member of staff the opportunity to opt in as an affiliate and sell on the social media platform.

Those who become faces of the live channel will be offered a percentage of any sale that they drive on TikTok Shop.

The makeup artists will be encouraged to host tutorials and product demonstrations, with items available to buy directly through the app.

MAC, which is part of the Estee Lauder group of beauty brands, said the first live shopping show will stream from its Carnaby Street store in London.

It is hoping that tapping into social media shoppers will also bring more people into its more than 230 standalone shops and concessions.

TikTok Shop burst onto the UK’s retail scene in 2021 and, in recent years, has become a significant force in the world of e-commerce, reaching millions of people who use the video-sharing app and converting many into shoppers with a few taps.

Many content creators can earn a commission on products that they sell through the app when they co-operate with a brand or retailer.

Major retailers like Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s are now selling products on the marketplace alongside thousands of smaller businesses and brands.

The app has particularly been part of a boom for the beauty market, with beauty sales on the platform soaring by 60% year-on-year in 2025, fuelled by trends such as Korean skincare.

But the spread of in-app shopping has also prompted concerns about so-called impulse buying, particularly among younger consumers who are often targeted by influencer-led marketing.

Sara Staniford, the vice president and general manager of MAC in the UK and Ireland, said: “MAC has always been driven by our artists and the communities they create.

“TikTok Shop gives us an exciting new way to celebrate that creativity and connect with beauty lovers in real time.

“It puts our artists exactly where they belong, at the centre of the conversation.”