US

Trump threatens to destroy Iran oil island despite price surge

BY AFP TEAMS IN JERUSALEM, SANAA, WASHINGTON, TEHRAN, BEIRUT AND DUBAI

  • But he warned that if a deal was not struck -- including to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane -- US forces would destroy "all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)."
  • US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to destroy Iran's crude export hub of Kharg Island, along with the country's oil wells and power plants, unless Tehran quickly accepted a peace deal. 
  • But he warned that if a deal was not struck -- including to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane -- US forces would destroy "all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)."
US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to destroy Iran's crude export hub of Kharg Island, along with the country's oil wells and power plants, unless Tehran quickly accepted a peace deal. 
The risk of further escalation, including a potential US ground operation to seize Kharg Island, is sending tremors through financial markets, as well as neighboring Gulf countries.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump expressed confidence that a negotiated settlement would soon be reached, adding that the United States was in "serious discussions" with "a more reasonable regime" in Tehran.
But he warned that if a deal was not struck -- including to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane -- US forces would destroy "all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)."
Destroying civilian infrastructure such as power and water facilities would be illegal under international humanitarian law and could constitute a war crime, experts say.
Iran has previously threatened to retaliate by targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants in its Arab neighbors in the Gulf who host US military bases, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 
Market experts warned that any US ground operation or wider Iranian retaliation could send oil prices to levels not seen since the July 2008 commodity boom, when the cost of world benchmark Brent crude hit close to $150 per barrel.
Brent has already risen in price by nearly 60 percent this month, and the US benchmark WTI by more than half.
The spectre of a widening conflict grew over the weekend when Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen fired missiles and drones at Israel.
The Houthis have previously threatened shipping through the Red Sea and Suez canal, which requires vessels to travel through a narrow strait off Yemen's coast.
"The Houthi's ability to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which accounts for roughly 12 percent of global trade, is the new key risk," said analyst Chris Weston at Australian financial services company Pepperstone. 
In Lebanon, Israel continued to bombard Beirut's southern suburbs and the country's south, where an airstrike targeted an army checkpoint and killed a soldier.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, where Israeli and Hezbollah forces are clashing, reported that two of its personnel were killed on Monday in "an explosion of unknown origin". 
Another peacekeeper was killed on Sunday, with Indonesia confirming one of its soldiers had died.

Diplomatic efforts

Around the Middle East on Monday, there was no let-up in hostilities.
Israel said its air defence batteries responded to "missiles launched from Iran," after earlier announcing it was striking "terror regime military infrastructure across Tehran."
Israel also confirmed it had hit the Imam Hossein University in the capital, which it said was used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for advanced weapons research. 
In Israel, emergency services reported a fire at an oil refinery in the northern port city of Haifa, which also suffered a blaze on March 19.
Kuwait condemned strikes on a power station and a desalination plant, which killed an Indian worker.
On the diplomatic front, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose country is playing a role in mediating indirect talks between the US and Iran, appealed directly to Trump on Monday to find an offramp.
"Please, help us to stop the war, you are capable of it," Sisi told a press conference with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Cairo. 
Egypt's foreign minister joined counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Sunday for talks on the crisis.
"As the war that the US and Israel launched against Iran enters its second month, it appears to be stalemated," Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group think-tank, told an online event on Monday.   
Trump has consistently claimed to be in direct contact with senior Iranian figures who have not been identified publicly. 
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to internal "fractures" within the Islamic republic on Monday, while expressing hope that the Iranian officials allegedly in contact with Washington had the "power to deliver."
Iranian leaders continue to insist Trump's offer of talks is a smokescreen as he moves thousands of marines and paratroopers to the region for a possible ground invasion.

Semblance of routine

After weeks of strikes, residents of Tehran painted a picture of a city that is still clinging to some routine, with cafes and restaurants open and no shortages reported in supermarkets or petrol stations.
Security remains tight, with checkpoints erected on streets around the capital.
"When I make it to a cafe table, even for a few minutes, I can almost believe the world hasn't ended," said Fatemeh, 27, a dental assistant.
"And then I go back home, back to the reality of living through war, with all its darkness and weight."
Meeting in Paris on Monday, economy ministers and central bankers from the G7 club of rich countries discussed how to shield their citizens from the war's effects. 
Many countries around the world have started to introduce energy-saving measures or are cutting fuel taxes to help consumers.
Developed countries agreed on March 11 to their biggest-ever release of oil reserves, with more releases predicted by analysts, especially if the war escalates.
burs-adp/smw

US

War in the Middle East: latest developments

  • - Israel kills three Hezbollah members - An Israeli airstrike on a residential building near Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least three Hezbollah members, a security source told AFP. The strike "targeted an office used by Hezbollah, killing three members and seriously wounding three others", while the Israeli army, for its part, announced it had "begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in Beirut".
  • Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Two UN peacekeepers killed - The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said two of its personnel were killed on Monday in a blast in the country's south, after another peacekeeper was killed a day earlier.
  • - Israel kills three Hezbollah members - An Israeli airstrike on a residential building near Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least three Hezbollah members, a security source told AFP. The strike "targeted an office used by Hezbollah, killing three members and seriously wounding three others", while the Israeli army, for its part, announced it had "begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in Beirut".
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Two UN peacekeepers killed

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said two of its personnel were killed on Monday in a blast in the country's south, after another peacekeeper was killed a day earlier.
Another blue helmet was severely wounded and a fourth injured in the explosion, the force said, adding it had launched an investigation.

G7 ministers pledge action on energy

G7 economy and finance ministers said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the stability of the energy market, roiled by the war.
- NATO intercepts Turkey-bound missile - 
NATO forces intercepted a new missile fired from Iran towards Turkey -- the fourth since the start of the Middle East war.
None of the four projectiles managed to hit Turkish soil, according to the authorities. 

Egypt's Sisi asks Trump to help stop war

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to help end the war.
"I say to President Trump: no one will be able to stop the war in our region, in the Gulf... Please, help us to stop the war, you are capable of it," Sisi said in Cairo.

US 'hopeful' in private Iran talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope for working with elements within Iran's government, saying the United States privately had received positive messages.
Rubio said there were internal "fractures" inside the Islamic republic and that the United States hopes figures with "power to deliver" take charge.

Israel strikes Iran university

Israel's military said it had struck the Imam Hossein University in Tehran run by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, claiming the institution was used for advanced weapons research.

Trump threatens Iran oil hub

Trump threatened to destroy Iran's oil export hub of Kharg Island, oil wells and power plants if it does not agree soon to a deal to end the war.
The US president wrote on his Truth Social network that while the United States is in "serious discussions" with "a more reasonable regime" in Tehran, if an agreement was not forthcoming Washington would set about "completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!)".

Israel kills three Hezbollah members

An Israeli airstrike on a residential building near Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least three Hezbollah members, a security source told AFP.
The strike "targeted an office used by Hezbollah, killing three members and seriously wounding three others", while the Israeli army, for its part, announced it had "begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructures in Beirut".

Israeli oil site hit

Israel's fire and rescue service said its crews were working to extinguish a large blaze at the Haifa oil refinery after it was hit by debris from the interception of a projectile.
Television channels showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the site, while the fire service shared photos of a tank on fire.

Iran blames Israel

Iran's military said Israel was behind a recent strike on Kuwait's desalination plant.

Strike on Iraq base

Rockets fired overnight targeted an Iraqi military base inside the Baghdad airport complex, which also houses a support centre for the US embassy, Iraq's defence ministry said.

Non-proliferation treaty

A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons but the issue of whether to remain part of the non-proliferation treaty was under review in parliament.

Spain shuts out US

Spain's left-wing government has closed Spanish airspace to US planes carrying out missions against Iran in addition to denying Washington use of its bases, the defence minister said.
burs-pdw/

US

What could Trump achieve by threatening Iran's Kharg Island?

BY FABIEN ZAMORA

  • Just 60 kilometres away is the city of Bushehr, an important military centre "from which the Iranians defend the entire northern part of the Gulf, including Kharg", noted Pierre Razoux of French research centre FMES. - Why do it?
  • A scrubby island in the Gulf that is roughly one third the size of Manhattan, Kharg Island is the nerve centre of the Iranian oil industry -- and at the heart of US President Donald Trump's latest efforts to pressure Tehran.
  • Just 60 kilometres away is the city of Bushehr, an important military centre "from which the Iranians defend the entire northern part of the Gulf, including Kharg", noted Pierre Razoux of French research centre FMES. - Why do it?
A scrubby island in the Gulf that is roughly one third the size of Manhattan, Kharg Island is the nerve centre of the Iranian oil industry -- and at the heart of US President Donald Trump's latest efforts to pressure Tehran.
On Monday Trump vowed that a failure by Iran to agree a deal to end the war could see the United States "completely obliterating" the export hub. 
A day earlier, he had said the United States could take the island, eyed by the Pentagon for ground operations, "very easily".
So what are Trump's options, and how might Iran react if he presses on this pressure point?

What is Kharg Island?

It may be a mere scrap of land, but Kharg  handles around 90 percent of Iran's crude exports, according to a report by US bank JP Morgan.
Located in the north of the Gulf, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Iranian coast and more than 500 kilometres from the Strait of Hormuz, it has no oil wells.
But it has Iran's largest oil terminal, oil pipelines, storage tanks and related infrastructure.
It also has military facilities, some of which have already been hit by Israeli-US strikes.
On March 13, "US forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island", Centcom, the US military command for the region, said.
"The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and multiple other military sites. US forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure."
Sources close to US intelligence services told US broadcaster CNN Iran had deployed additional troops and defence systems to the area in recent weeks, including MANPAD-type surface-to-air missiles and mines.

Trump's options?

There appear to be three routes for US forces wishing to seize the island -– an airborne attack; an amphibious operation; or a combination of the two.
The Pentagon is currently moving US paratroopers and Marines into the area.
"(The) US combat force build-up sets the stage for (a) potential ground offensive in Iran," said US think tank Soufan.
Centcom former commander General Joseph Votel told The War Zone website this month it would not take that many soldiers to seize Kharg.
"On a small island like Kharg, I imagine you'd need a battalion of Marines. We are therefore talking about a force of 800 to 1,000 men, perhaps a little fewer, certainly not much more," he said.
But taking Kharg and holding onto it "are two different things", stressed Professor Phillips O'Brien of the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
He said the US military would struggle to retain the island within range of Iranian missiles and drones.
Just 60 kilometres away is the city of Bushehr, an important military centre "from which the Iranians defend the entire northern part of the Gulf, including Kharg", noted Pierre Razoux of French research centre FMES.

Why do it?

Trump's war goals remain hazy. It is unclear whether he primarily wants to force Iran to reopen shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz; force regime change in Tehran; coerce the Iranians into concessions on their nuclear or ballistic missile programmes.
In the short term, capturing Kharg could give Washington leverage to force Iran to negotiate -– presumably on Trump's terms, given the country's dependence on oil revenue, the Soufan Center said.
It might not have much effect in reopening the Gulf to shipping, however, because Iran controls a string of other islands in the Strait of Hormuz.
And if the Iranians choose not to cede to Trump's demands, "What does the US do?", O'Brien wondered.
"Does the US then, out of spite, level all the economic facilities on Kharg?
"That could easily boomerang back in American faces. It means oil prices skyrocket even more and stay high for much longer," he said.
"It also means Iran will be incentivised to shut down the traffic in the Straits for even longer. If they cannot get their own oil out, why let anyone else's?"
fz/dab-gil/st

Maoists

India declares victory over Maoist insurgency

BY ARUNABH SAIKIA

  • India in the last two years stepped up its campaign against the last remnants of the Naxalite rebellion, named after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired insurgency began nearly six decades ago.
  • India on Monday declared the country free of the Maoist insurgency, fulfilling a long-standing deadline to defeat the decades-long rebellion.
  • India in the last two years stepped up its campaign against the last remnants of the Naxalite rebellion, named after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired insurgency began nearly six decades ago.
India on Monday declared the country free of the Maoist insurgency, fulfilling a long-standing deadline to defeat the decades-long rebellion.
Home Minster Amit Shah told parliament India was "free" of the rebels, known as Naxals.
"I can say it openly, that we have become Naxal-free -- there is no hesitation in saying this," Shah told parliament, adding that "once the entire operation is completed, I will also inform the country."
India in the last two years stepped up its campaign against the last remnants of the Naxalite rebellion, named after the village in the Himalayan foothills where the Maoist-inspired insurgency began nearly six decades ago.
The rebellion controlled nearly a third of the country with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 fighters at its peak in the mid-2000s, but had been dramatically weakened in recent years.
Most armed insurgents were limited to central Chhattisgarh state's Bastar region, a vast mineral-rich sprawl of dense forests and hills, roughly the size of The Netherlands.
"Bastar is now Naxal-free," Shah told the parliament during a 90-minute speech detailing the history and tactics employed by security forces to end the insurgency.
"The days of those who commit Maoist violence, of those who perpetrate Naxalism's violence, are over now," Shah added.
In 2025, security forces killed 364 insurgents, arrested 1,022, and another 2,337 surrendered, including senior leaders, according to statistics tabled in India's parliament.
Civilian and security force deaths have dropped by 90 percent since 2010, and annual Maoist attacks have fallen from more than 1,900 to roughly 200 last year.
Shah said the government strengthened the capacities of local police forces in the states affected by the insurgency and intensified coordination between security forces.
"We adopted an all-agency approach, not just weapons," Shah said, adding all but two of the Maoist commanders have either been killed or have surrendered.
"They will also surrender soon."
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma told AFP earlier the state was entirely free of insurgents.
"Their entire armed cadre has been eliminated," he said.
All armed militants had been killed or had surrendered, Sharma said, adding that the movement "no longer has any organisational format".
The Maoists said they were fighting for the rights of marginalised indigenous people in forest regions, where mining companies also eye valuable resources.
More than 12,000 rebels, soldiers and civilians have died in the conflict since a handful of villagers rose up against their feudal lords in 1967.
Former Maoist rebel Vishnu Madvi, 26, surrendered in January after seven years  with the guerrillas.
"My commander was killed in 2025 in a police operation -- that I barely survived," Madvi told AFP on Monday, speaking from a rehabilitation camp.
"Our top leaders were all gone, the police was all over us -- so there was no option but to give myself up."
sai-pzb/mtp

espionage

Russia expels UK diplomat on spying allegations

  • "The accusations made today by Russia against our diplomats are complete nonsense," a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding Russia was "pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work".
  • Russia on Monday kicked out a British diplomat over allegations he was working as a spy -- charges rejected by London as "complete nonsense".
  • "The accusations made today by Russia against our diplomats are complete nonsense," a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding Russia was "pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work".
Russia on Monday kicked out a British diplomat over allegations he was working as a spy -- charges rejected by London as "complete nonsense".
Moscow and London have each expelled multiple embassy staff over the last decade, trading accusations of espionage.
Expulsions from one side have typically been followed by a tit-for-tat response from the other.
The diplomat was expelled for engaging in "subversive intelligence activities that threaten Russia's security", Russia's FSB security service said.
The diplomat was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks, the FSB said.
The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned Britain's charge d'affaires over the incident and warned London not to retaliate.
Britain accused Russia of waging an "increasingly aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment".
"The accusations made today by Russia against our diplomats are complete nonsense," a foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding Russia was "pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work".
"The UK does not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families," the British spokesperson added.
Russia previously announced the expulsion of a British diplomat in January, prompting the UK to revoke a Russian diplomat's accreditation last month.
Relations between London and Moscow, currently at a low point over the Ukraine war, have been strained by spying allegations for decades.
In 2006, former FSB officer and Russian defector Alexander Litvinenko was killed in London, poisoned by polonium in what British investigators said was a hit by the Russian secret service.
In 2018, the UK said Russian double agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in the British cathedral city of Salisbury.
A member of the public was killed after handling the delivery device, a discarded perfume bottle, triggering the largest Western expulsion in decades of Russian diplomats alleged to be spies.
burs-am/jkb/sbk

diplomacy

Germany's Merz pushes return of Syrians as he hosts leader Sharaa

BY JASTINDER KHERA

  • After meeting Sharaa in Berlin, Merz said the two leaders were "working jointly towards more Syrians being able to return".
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa want 80 percent of Syrians in Germany to return to their homeland, as the former Islamist rebel leader visited Berlin.
  • After meeting Sharaa in Berlin, Merz said the two leaders were "working jointly towards more Syrians being able to return".
Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday said he and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa want 80 percent of Syrians in Germany to return to their homeland, as the former Islamist rebel leader visited Berlin.
Europe's top economy is home to the largest Syrian diaspora in the European Union at more than a million, many of whom arrived during the peak of the migrant influx in 2015-2016.
After meeting Sharaa in Berlin, Merz said the two leaders were "working jointly towards more Syrians being able to return".
The German chancellor, who has made a tougher immigration policy a priority since taking office last year, said he and Sharaa had agreed that eight out of 10 Syrians in Germany should go back "over the next three years".
On his first trip to Germany since ousting his country's longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Sharaa also pledged to work with Germany to enable more Syrians to return.
Syria is "working with our friends in the German government to establish a 'circular' migration model", Sharaa said.
This would "enable Syrians to contribute to the reconstruction of their homeland without giving up the stability and lives they have built here, for those who wish to stay", he said.
Sharaa, 43, has managed to build relations with Western governments and made several overseas trips, including to the United States, France and Russia.
As a result, many international sanctions on Syria have been lifted to help the country rebuild after a bloody 14-year civil war.

'Premature normalisation'

Earlier, Sharaa told a foreign ministry forum in Berlin that Syria had experienced a "huge amount of destruction" during its long conflict, saying that Syrians "want to catch up with the rest of the world" as Germany did after World War II.
He pointed to investment opportunities in Syria's energy, transport and tourism sectors, describing his homeland as very diverse and with "a great wealth of human resources".
Merz said Germany wanted to "support" reconstruction in Syria as it struggles to rebuild after a long and bloody civil war, adding that a German government delegation would travel to the Middle Eastern country in the next few days.
However, Merz also said that he had stressed to Sharaa in their meeting "that many joint projects in the future will depend on our finding a state governed by the rule of law".
Rights campaigners have criticised Sharaa's Germany visit, pointing to his Islamist past and ongoing violence and instability in Syria.
Protesters gathered in front of the foreign ministry on Monday waving Kurdish flags and placards, highlighting Sharaa's time as an Islamist militant.
Near the chancellery, dozens of Syrians also turned out to welcome Sharaa, waving Syria's new revolutionary flag and a banner showing the president surrounded by hearts.
The German Green party's foreign affairs spokeswoman Luise Amtsberg told AFP Germany should not engage in a "premature normalisation" of Sharaa's government.
Merz had reduced Syria policy to the question of returns "and is ignoring the situation on the ground", she said.

'Authoritarian tendencies'

Since Sharaa has been in power, sectarian tensions have continued to cause repeated bloodshed in Syria, while the Islamic State group remains at large.
After Assad's overthrow, Israel moved its forces into the UN-patrolled demilitarised zone on the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, and has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria as well as regular incursions.
Sharaa was initially planning to visit Germany in January, but the trip was postponed as he sought to end fighting between government troops and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in his country's north.
KGD, a group that represents the Kurdish community in Germany, has said that Sharaa "bears responsibility for numerous human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity".
Sophie Bischoff, president of the German-Syrian NGO Adopt A Revolution, told reporters that any support from the German government "must be linked to clear conditions" and warned that "authoritarian tendencies are on the rise again in Syria".
fec-jsk/sbk

US

G7 ministers pledge 'necessary measures' to ensure stable energy market

BY MARTINE PAUWELS

  • "We stand ready to take all necessary measures in close coordination with our partners, including to preserve the stability and security of the energy market," G7 energy and finance ministers, as well as central bank governors, said in a joint statement.
  • G7 economy and finance ministers Monday said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the stability of the energy market as they tackled the economic consequences of war in the Middle East.
  • "We stand ready to take all necessary measures in close coordination with our partners, including to preserve the stability and security of the energy market," G7 energy and finance ministers, as well as central bank governors, said in a joint statement.
G7 economy and finance ministers Monday said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures" to ensure the stability of the energy market as they tackled the economic consequences of war in the Middle East.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, and Tehran has hit back by targeting crude-exporting countries in the region and halting most shipments through the Gulf.
The squeeze on supply has pushed oil and natural gas prices higher, with drastic knock-on effects for supply chains in multiple industries.
"We stand ready to take all necessary measures in close coordination with our partners, including to preserve the stability and security of the energy market," G7 energy and finance ministers, as well as central bank governors, said in a joint statement.
"We recognise the importance of coordinated international action to mitigate spillovers and safeguard macroeconomic stability."
They said they continued to monitor developments and their potential impact on global growth, and financial market conditions. 
The G7 ministers also called on all countries to refrain from imposing unjustified export restrictions on hydrocarbons and related products.
The G7 -- an informal grouping of the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan -- helps shape policy debates in the world's wealthiest nations.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7 advanced economies.
"What's happening now in the Gulf is having energy consequences, economic consequences, financial market consequences and potentially inflation consequences," French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters ahead of the meeting, which he chaired. 
The United States has sought support from the group to help halt Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
After a meeting last week, G7 foreign ministers said it was an "absolute necessity" for Iran to re-establish free passage through the strait and called for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure.

'Act quickly'

Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices. 
On Friday, the French government announced it would spend 70 million euros ($80 million) to help the fishing, agriculture and transport industries in April.
Lescure said on Monday that measures of support should be targeted and rapid.
"This is a crisis that affects all of us and that will result in costs for the nation," Lescure told reporters.
We need to "act quickly and act fairly," he said.
US officials, including President Donald Trump, have said their goals in the war are almost achieved, but thousands of US personnel have been sent to the region in an unprecedented military build-up.
Activists based outside Iran say the US-Israeli campaign has killed more than 3,000 people in the country, over half of them civilians, while Lebanese officials have said more than 1,000 have been killed there since Israel began attacking its territory in retaliation for Hezbollah attacks on March 2.
Officials in Israel and countries across the Gulf have also reported much smaller numbers of casualties.
bur-mpa-as/ah/st

aviation

Air Canada CEO to retire after row over English-only condolence message

BY BEIYI SEOW

  • Rousseau had sparked controversy by issuing an English-only video message to express condolences after a deadly collision late on March 22 between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
  • Air Canada said Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year, an announcement following controversy over his failure to issue condolences both in English and French for a fatal airport disaster.
  • Rousseau had sparked controversy by issuing an English-only video message to express condolences after a deadly collision late on March 22 between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
Air Canada said Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire later this year, an announcement following controversy over his failure to issue condolences both in English and French for a fatal airport disaster.
Rousseau had sparked controversy by issuing an English-only video message to express condolences after a deadly collision late on March 22 between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
Canada has two official languages -- English and French --  and media reports noted that one of the pilots killed in the accident was from French-speaking Quebec.
Rousseau has informed the company's board that he will retire by the end of the third quarter, the airline said, adding that work is underway to choose his successor.
"The Board will consider a number of performance criteria in assessing candidates including the ability to communicate in French," Air Canada said in the statement.
Until he steps down, Rousseau is set to continue leading the company and serving on its board.
Air Canada is the country's largest airline and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec -- Canada's traditionally French-speaking region. The company is required to offer services in both languages.

'Lack of judgement'

Rousseau had earlier issued an apology over his English-only message, saying he was saddened that his limited French "has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families."
"Despite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French," he said in a statement.
He added: "I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also criticized the CEO's conduct, saying he was "very disappointed, as others are, rightly so, in this unilingual message."
Carney added that the message showed a "lack of judgement and a lack of compassion."
Similarly, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told AFP on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers meeting in France that all Canadian leaders, including corporate bosses, should speak both official languages.
"Canada is a bilingual country," she said.
In 2021, Rousseau also issued an apology over his lack of French proficiency.
At the time, he apologized for causing offense by giving a speech almost entirely in English, pledging to improve his French.
After remarks to business groups and comments to journalists that he had managed to get by without French for years, Rousseau faced backlash from politicians.
Quebec is the only Canadian province that is primarily Francophone.
bys/sms

leisure

Japan's cherry blossom season dazzles locals and tourists

  • - 'Good photo opportunity' - "We observed the cherry blossoms in full bloom on March 30," Kyoto Local Meteorological Office said.
  • Japanese locals and tourists packed the country's most stunning cherry blossom spots on Monday to enjoy the dazzling flowers at full bloom.
  • - 'Good photo opportunity' - "We observed the cherry blossoms in full bloom on March 30," Kyoto Local Meteorological Office said.
Japanese locals and tourists packed the country's most stunning cherry blossom spots on Monday to enjoy the dazzling flowers at full bloom.
The tiny white and pink petals of cherry flowers, known as sakura, herald the start of spring in Japan, and full bloom ushers in a brief period of boisterous outdoor parties held by residents.
Across the nation families and friends rolled out blankets and tarpaulins at parks, temples and even cemeteries over the weekend to eat and drink under cherry trees for traditional "hanami" or flower viewing gatherings.
Japanese people hold "very special feelings for sakura", said Tokyo resident Akiko Nyman, 48, as she admired flowers in crowded Ueno park in the centre of the capital.
"We love it, because it is so short... it doesn't last long, it comes every year, something very special," she said.
At this time of the year, weather forecasters are laser focused on when the blossom will peak in each city, and they advise excited residents on the best weather days for picnics and how long the flowers might last.
In the ancient capital of Kyoto, officials on Monday declared full bloom after examining a sample tree within the grounds of Nijo-jo Castle, a world heritage site.

'Good photo opportunity'

"We observed the cherry blossoms in full bloom on March 30," Kyoto Local Meteorological Office said.
Cherry flowers at ancient temples and shrines in Kyoto are particularly popular among visitors and locals.
Australian tourist Olivia Martell-Groves went all in for the seasonal experience, and donned a flower-printed kimono while marvelling at the flowers.
"We wanted to see them because they're really pretty, good photo opportunities and something you can only see in certain times of the year... and also it just feels so peaceful and nice," she said.
In Tokyo, the flowers reached full bloom during the weekend, entering a brief period of stunning beauty, before the petals will fall like flurries of snow.
The flowers symbolise both the youthful energy and the fragility of life in Japanese culture as full blooms only last about a week.
The season marks the start of the new business year when university graduates join the work force.
It is also a time of farewells, when school graduates leave their hometown while many corporate professionals receive assignments in new cities.
hih/aph/ane

US

War in the Middle East: latest developments

  • - Lebanon toll rises - Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed 1,238 people in the country since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.
  • Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Trading blows - The Israeli army said on Monday morning that it was striking Iranian military infrastructure across the Islamic republic's capital.
  • - Lebanon toll rises - Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed 1,238 people in the country since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Trading blows

The Israeli army said on Monday morning that it was striking Iranian military infrastructure across the Islamic republic's capital.
Shortly after, the army said it was intercepting missiles launched from Iran.

Peacekeeper killed

Indonesia confirmed that one of its peacekeepers was killed in Lebanon, after the UN force said a projectile hit one of its positions.
The Indonesian foreign ministry said "indirect artillery fire" near the town of Adchit al Qusayr killed one of its peacekeepers and wounded three others.

Kharg Island

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with The Financial Times on Sunday that the United States could take Iran's Kharg Island "very easily."
When asked about the state of Iranian defence on the island, which houses a vital oil terminal, Trump said "I don't think they have any defence. We could take it very easily."

Saudis intercepts missiles

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said its forces detected and intercepted five ballistic missiles aimed at the kingdom's Eastern Province.
The brief statement posted on X did not specify where the missiles originated.

'Regime change'

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the US-Israel war had achieved regime change in Iran.  
"We're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before. It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change," Trump said.

Deadly Kuwait strike

An Iranian strike on a power station in Kuwait killed one Indian worker and damaged a building at the site, the Gulf state's electricity ministry said.

Israel boosts defence spending

Israel's parliament passed its 2026 budget, including about $10 billion in new military spending, bringing the country's total defence budget to about $45 billion.

Power cuts in Iran

Iran's energy ministry has reported power outages in Tehran, following what it said were "attacks on electricity industry facilities".

Iran's heavy water plant  

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran's heavy water production plant in Khondab had sustained severe damage and was no longer operational after an Israeli military strike.
The Israeli military said Friday it carried out a strike against a heavy water plant in Arak, central Iran, describing the site as a "key plutonium production site for nuclear weapons".

Pakistan talks

Pakistan said that it was ready to broker and host "meaningful talks" between the United States and Iran to bring an end to their war, outlining growing support for its peace efforts, including from the United Nations and China.
Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey met in Islamabad.

Ambassador refuses

Iran's ambassador will not leave Lebanon despite being declared persona non grata and ordered to quit the country, an Iranian diplomatic source has told AFP.
Lebanon's foreign ministry accused him of making statements "interfering in Lebanon's internal politics".

University hit

A university in Iran's central city of Isfahan said it was hit by US-Israeli airstrikes for the second time since the war erupted.

Kuwait attack

Kuwait's defence ministry said 10 service members were injured in an attack on a military camp.

Lebanon toll rises

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes had killed 1,238 people in the country since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.

Israeli expansion

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered his military to "further expand" a security zone in Lebanon.

30 days offline

Iran's nationwide internet blackout has now lasted 30 days, leaving millions cut off from information and communication since the war began.

Iran missile unit

The Israeli military said it had attacked a key production facility in Tehran used by Iran's defence ministry to manufacture components for ballistic missiles.
burs/ksb/jgc/abs/yad

US

Israel PM restores access after Latin Patriarch blocked from Holy Sepulchre

BY JAY DESHMUKH

  • After widespread backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday the Latin Patriarch would get "full and immediate access".
  • Israel said the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem would regain access to Christianity's holiest site after the decision to block him from entering the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday triggered international condemnation.
  • After widespread backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday the Latin Patriarch would get "full and immediate access".
Israel said the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem would regain access to Christianity's holiest site after the decision to block him from entering the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday triggered international condemnation.
Police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from entering the church, citing security concerns as Israel enforces a ban on gatherings in synagogues, churches and mosques during the ongoing war with Iran, which has brought missile strikes near holy sites.
After widespread backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday the Latin Patriarch would get "full and immediate access".
The Latin Patriarchate said in a statement that Pizzaballa and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, were travelling privately without a ceremonial procession when officers at the church entrance forced them to turn back.
"As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre," it said, calling the incident a "grave precedent" that disregards the sensibilities of Christians worldwide.
Palm Sunday, which opens Holy Week for Christians, marks Jesus Christ's final entry into Jerusalem, days before his crucifixion and resurrection, as described in the Gospels.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the sites where Christians believe Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected.

Religious freedom concerns

"War will not erase the resurrection. Grief will not extinguish hope," Pizzaballa said at a Palm Sunday mass he held later at the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives.
The Patriarchate had already announced the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem, which normally draws thousands.
Israeli police said all holy sites in Jerusalem have been closed since the start of the war.
"The Patriarch's request was reviewed yesterday, and it was clarified that it could not be approved," it said in a statement to AFP.
"The Old City and the holy sites constitute a complex area that does not allow access for large emergency and rescue vehicles, which significantly challenges response capabilities and poses a real risk to human life in the event of a mass casualty incident," the force said.
In the Old City of Jerusalem, shops were shuttered and streets lay largely deserted as Christian worshippers expressed sorrow over the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday processions.
"This year because of the war we cannot celebrate in the streets like always," Simon Hosh, 25, a resident of the Old City, said.
"So, this year we just celebrate in the church. It's bad."
Pope Leo XIV, speaking after the Angelus prayer in Rome on Sunday, paid tribute to "the Christians of the Middle East, who suffer the consequences of a terrible conflict and in many cases cannot fully live the rites of these holy days".
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said barring the patriarch was a "violation of religious freedom" and urged Israel to guarantee worship "for all faiths".
World leaders from France, Spain, Italy and Jordan condemned the restriction. 
Netanyahu's office said there had been "no malicious intent" behind denying the cardinal entry.
The premier elaborated on Israel's security concerns in a post.
"Over the past several days, Iran has repeatedly targeted the holy sites of all three monotheistic religions in Jerusalem with ballistic missiles," Netanyahu wrote on X.
On March 16, Israeli police said they found missile and interceptor fragments at holy sites in the Old City, including near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, sharing photos of debris on a roof near the church.
ha-ac-jd/abs/mjw

police

Australian fugitive shot dead by police after seven-month manhunt

  • At one point involving around 450 police officers, the manhunt was one of the "most significantly resourced police operations" in Australian history, Bush said.
  • Australian police said Monday they shot a fugitive wanted for killing two officers, ending a seven-month manhunt for one of the country's most-wanted criminals.
  • At one point involving around 450 police officers, the manhunt was one of the "most significantly resourced police operations" in Australian history, Bush said.
Australian police said Monday they shot a fugitive wanted for killing two officers, ending a seven-month manhunt for one of the country's most-wanted criminals.
Desmond Freeman fled into dense bushland in August last year after shooting and killing two police officers who came to search his rural home in Victoria state.
Hundreds of police have pursued Freeman through the region's rugged terrain over the past seven months, pouring resources into one of Australia's largest manhunts.
Police tracked Freeman to a caravan parked on a "very remote" property in rural Victoria, police commissioner Mike Bush said, shooting him after he refused pleas to surrender. 
"Everything I know at this point tells me that this shooting was justified," Bush told reporters.
"There was a standoff. There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully, which he did not." 
The state coroner would now confirm the identity of the body and cause of death, he added.
Two local residents told AFP Freeman had been shot at a property in Thologolong, near the border of New South Wales and Victoria states.
The property's owner had been away for several weeks, they said.
"The place is off the grid entirely. I honestly don't think it's a place you just stumble across. You have to know where it is," said Thologolong resident Jasmine Teese. 
"There's no house there. The man who resides there lives in a collection of caravans, containers and old cars," she added.
Another local resident, cattle farmer Mike Gadd, told AFP it was "hard to believe" Freeman had remained undetected for so long.
Police said they had yet to speak to the owner.
Local media described Freeman as a conspiracy theorist and member of the so-called "sovereign citizen" movement, which falsely believes it is not subject to the law.  
While fighting a speeding penalty in a Melbourne court, Freeman referred to police as "frigging Nazis", "Gestapo" and "terrorist thugs", according to court documents. 
The 56-year-old -- known as "Dezi" -- escaped into a national park littered with disused mineshafts.
Helicopters, dog squads and reinforcements from New Zealand were dispatched to help track Freeman, who reportedly possessed strong bushcraft and outdoor survival skills. 
Police considered Freeman armed and dangerous. 
At one point involving around 450 police officers, the manhunt was one of the "most significantly resourced police operations" in Australian history, Bush said.

'Courage and bravery'

Police believed Freeman may have evaded capture with the help of locals sympathetic to his anti-authority views. 
"It would be very difficult for him to get to where he was without assistance," Bush said. 
They offered a AU$1 million ($685,000) reward -- the largest possible -- for information that helped bring him into custody.  
Freeman opened fire on police as they raided his home in the small village of Porepunkah in August. 
He killed 59-year-old detective Neal Thompson and 35-year-old senior constable Vadim De Waart.
A third officer was wounded in the lower body. 
"Today, we won't reflect on the loss of a coward," said the Police Association of Victoria.  
"We will remember the courage and bravery of our fallen members and every officer that has doggedly pursued this outcome for the community." 
While the reason for the search warrant has not been released, police said at the time the team included members of the sexual offences and child investigation squad.
sft-kln/ane

politics

Taiwan opposition leader accepts Xi's invitation to visit China

BY JOY CHIANG

  • Chinese state media said the delegation would visit the eastern province of Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7-12, but did not specify if Cheng would meet with Xi, which she has been publicly pushing for.
  • The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party accepted an invitation from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit in April, her party and Chinese state media reported Monday.
  • Chinese state media said the delegation would visit the eastern province of Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7-12, but did not specify if Cheng would meet with Xi, which she has been publicly pushing for.
The leader of Taiwan's main opposition party accepted an invitation from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit in April, her party and Chinese state media reported Monday.
Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson Cheng Li-wun, who took up her role in November, has insisted on meeting Xi before she makes an official trip to the United States, drawing criticism from inside and outside her party that she is too pro-China.  
The KMT advocates closer relations and more exchanges with China, which claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.
Cheng "gladly accepted" the invitation to lead a delegation to China, her party said in a statement, confirming a Xinhua report.
Cheng "looks forward to joint efforts by both parties to advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and work for peace in the Taiwan Strait and greater well-being for people on both sides," the statement said.
Chinese state media said the delegation would visit the eastern province of Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing from April 7-12, but did not specify if Cheng would meet with Xi, which she has been publicly pushing for.
Speaking after the announcement, Cheng said she hoped to prove that "the two sides of the strait are not doomed to war".
It will be the first visit to China by a sitting KMT chairperson since November 2016 when then KMT leader Hung Hsiu-chu met with Xi in Beijing.
There are concerns within the KMT that a Cheng-Xi meeting could trigger voter backlash in Taiwan's district elections later this year.
While the KMT has long supported friendlier relations with Beijing, Cheng has been accused by President Lai Ching-te's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of doing Beijing's bidding by stalling the government's defence spending plans.
But speaking to foreign media last week, Cheng said talks with Xi would carry "significant symbolic meaning" and could be a "foundation" for peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait.
"I do not believe a single meeting can resolve all the issues that have been accumulating for nearly a century," Cheng said.
"But... I hope I can successfully build such a bridge."
Taiwan's parliament is debating proposals for special defence spending aimed at boosting the island's military capabilities against a potential Chinese attack.
Lai's government has proposed NT$1.25 trillion ($39 billion) in spending on critical defence purchases, including US arms, while the KMT wants to allocate NT$380 billion for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions.
But some KMT lawmakers are pushing for a much higher budget than the one proposed by the party, signalling an internal split over defence.
Recently back from a US visit, Lu Shiow-yen, who is the mayor of Taiwan's manufacturing hub Taichung and widely seen as a potential KMT presidential candidate in the 2028 elections, has told local media "the reasonable amount to be passed and allocated should be between NT$800 billion and NT$1 trillion".
Cheng's trip to China was announced as a US bipartisan Congressional delegation visits Taiwan, dialling up pressure for greater military spending.
joy-amj/mjw

defense

US military building 'massive complex' beneath White House ballroom project: Trump

  • "The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that's under construction, and we're doing very well, so we're ahead of schedule," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
  • President Donald Trump said Sunday the US military was planning to construct a large complex beneath the new ballroom he is building at the White House.
  • "The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that's under construction, and we're doing very well, so we're ahead of schedule," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
President Donald Trump said Sunday the US military was planning to construct a large complex beneath the new ballroom he is building at the White House.
"The military is building a massive complex under the ballroom, and that's under construction, and we're doing very well, so we're ahead of schedule," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
"It's part of it, the ballroom essentially becomes a shed for what's being built under," Trump said, without elaborating on the unprecedented arrangement.
He said information about the plan had come out recently "because of a stupid lawsuit."
Last October, the former real estate developer had an entire wing of the White House bulldozed, in order to build a vast ballroom to host receptions and state dinners. 
Trump speaks frequently and in great detail about the construction work, which has thus far been undertaken without the usual byzantine vetting procedures for changes to Washington's built landscape.
"We are using onyx and stones that are incredible," he recently told a press conference dedicated in part to the war in the Middle East. 
The ballroom project -- one of the most ambitious undertakings at the White House in over a century -- has continued to grow in scope, with its privately-funded budget doubling from $200 to $400 million. 
Eager to leave his mark on the US capital, Trump has also renamed an iconic performance venue as the "Trump-Kennedy Center," and plans to build a grand arch in Washington inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
myl/ksb/jgc

US

G7 ministers set to tackle financial fallout of Mideast war

BY MARTINE PAUWELS

  • - Governments scrambling - Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices. 
  • Ministers from the G7 will hold talks on Monday to unpack the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East, the French government said, as oil and gas prices continue to soar.
  • - Governments scrambling - Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices. 
Ministers from the G7 will hold talks on Monday to unpack the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East, the French government said, as oil and gas prices continue to soar.
The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February and Tehran has hit back by targeting crude-exporting countries in the region and halting shipments through the Gulf.
The squeeze on supply has pushed oil and natural gas prices higher, with drastic knock-on effects for supply chains in countless industries.
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the G7 meeting, to be held via videoconference, would include energy and finance ministers as well as central bank chiefs and the heads of other international agencies.
"There are already differences in the responses largely linked to differences in exposure to the crisis," Lescure told a news conference on Friday, stressing that Asia was particularly exposed to the turmoil. 
"That is one of the reasons why we wanted to convene a G7 of finance, energy and central banks," he said.
He added that the idea was to exchange views on the impact on financial markets and the economy, later telling local media it was the first time in half a century the G7 had used this format.
The G7, an informal grouping of the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, helps shape policy debates in the world's wealthiest nations.
The United States has sought support from the group to help halt Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
After a meeting last week, G7 foreign ministers said it was an "absolute necessity" for Iran to re-establish free passage through the strait and called for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure.

Governments scrambling

Under increasing pressure, many governments have rolled out measures to limit the impact of supply difficulties and soaring energy prices. 
But a lack of clarity over US war aims, along with uncertainty over the potential length of the conflict and the spread of hostilities, has left governments scrambling for coherent responses.
US officials, including President Donald Trump, have said their goals in the war are almost achieved, but thousands of US personnel have been sent to the region in an unprecedented military build-up.
Activists based outside Iran say the US-Israeli campaign has killed more than 3,000 people in the country, over half of them civilians, while Lebanese officials have said more than 1,000 have been killed there since Israel began attacking its territory in retaliation for Hezbollah attacks on March 2.
Officials in Israel and countries across the Gulf have also reported much smaller numbers of casualties.
mpa/jxb/rmb/abs

Global Edition

Australia to halve fuel tax in response to Middle East war

  • Albanese announced the step after meeting with the leaders of Australia's states and territories on Monday, agreeing a plan to tackle fuel shortages as the war in the Middle East continues.
  • Australia will halve a fuel tax to help motorists experiencing soaring petrol prices due to war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday.
  • Albanese announced the step after meeting with the leaders of Australia's states and territories on Monday, agreeing a plan to tackle fuel shortages as the war in the Middle East continues.
Australia will halve a fuel tax to help motorists experiencing soaring petrol prices due to war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday.
Albanese announced the step after meeting with the leaders of Australia's states and territories on Monday, agreeing a plan to tackle fuel shortages as the war in the Middle East continues.
Australia charges a sales tax of 52 cents on each litre of petrol sold at the pump, which will be halved for three months. 
The measure will cost the government $1.75 billion (Aus$2.55 billion), officials said.
"We are making fuel cheaper today because we understand that Australians are under serious pressure," Albanese said. 
Albanese's government has sought to reassure motorists that shipments of fuel continue to arrive in Australia, and petrol shortages in rural towns stem from panic buying and distribution bottlenecks.
Victoria and Tasmania states have made travel on public transport free, and Albanese urged motorists nationally to do what they can to conserve petrol by driving less.
"The less fuel we use in the cities obviously the more we can redirect to regionals areas that are under pressure," he told reporters in Canberra.
In New South Wales, state Premier Chris Minns said there were scores of petrol stations without any fuel, and the focus was on helping rural towns.
"If the situation gets worse, we will take extra measures," he said.
Australia's national parliament on Monday introduced a bill to give powers to the government to underwrite the purchase of shiploads of fuel that will add to supply in Australia. 
Weekly data released by the government showed Australia has 39 days of petrol, a small increase on the previous week, and 30 days of diesel supply.
The government will also reduce costs for trucks by cutting a heavy vehicle road user charge.
The Fuel Check monitor showed average petrol prices had leapt from Aus$1.82 in February to Aus$2.48 on Monday in New South Wales, with diesel reaching Aus$3.
kln/sft/lb

tourism

Air China resumes flights to North Korea after 6-year pause

  • North Korea resumed direct flights and train services with Russia last year and state carrier Air Koryo restarted flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in 2023.
  • Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.
  • North Korea resumed direct flights and train services with Russia last year and state carrier Air Koryo restarted flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in 2023.
Air China restarted direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday after a six-year hiatus, another sign isolated North Korea is gradually opening up following the resumption of train services between the capitals.
China has acted as a lifeline for North Korea's moribund economy as its largest trading partner as well as an important source of diplomatic and political support.
Access to North Korea has always been heavily restricted, but the country became almost entirely cut off when it sealed its borders in 2020 during the pandemic.
Flight CA121 departed Beijing Capital Airport at 7:58 am (2358 GMT on Sunday), according to FlightStats data, and arrived at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport at 10:37 am (0137 GMT).
The plane was a Boeing 737-700 with capacity for up to 128 passengers, according to travel website Trip.com, though only travellers with business, study or other special purposes can make the cross-border journey.
China's ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun and other Chinese diplomats greeted the passengers at the airport, Xinhua news agency said.
Earlier, AFP journalists saw travellers at Beijing's bustling airport forming a snaking queue to check in their luggage with the airline.
Pyongyang-bound business traveller Zhao Bin showed reporters his air ticket, and expressed optimism that tourism would resume for Chinese visitors.
"I expect both railway routes and Air China flights will increase, and there will be more exchanges and travel between people," said Zhao, who will be spending around a week in North Korea.
He has visited North Korea multiple times, most recently in 2024, and said that the resumption of the flight route will offer "greater convenience to those of us who frequently travel between Beijing and Pyongyang".

Tourists

Zhao told AFP he was looking forward to eating North Korea's "incredibly rich and diverse" cuisine and hoped increased exchanges between both countries could deepen ties "to a new level". 
"The relationship between the two countries is now as close as brothers," he said.
Air China did not immediately reply to AFP when asked for details on the flight, including the number of passengers travelling from Beijing to Pyongyang.
Economy class tickets had been available for around $200 and a return flight from Pyongyang is scheduled for midday.
Daily passenger train services resumed this month with China, and AFP journalists in China's northeastern town of Dandong -- long a key gateway for exchanges with North Korea -- saw a mostly empty passenger train travelling into the isolated nation last week.
While China has fully reopened its borders since the pandemic, North Korea has proceeded at a much slower pace.
North Korea resumed direct flights and train services with Russia last year and state carrier Air Koryo restarted flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in 2023.
Young Pioneer Tours, which specialises in travel to North Korea, told AFP in March that Air China resuming its route to Beijing opens Pyongyang up to more accessible connections.
While the announcement of flights was "promising" for tourism, "there is still no further confirmation regarding Western tourists", Young Pioneer tour manager Rowan Beard said.
Prior to the pandemic, Chinese tourists made up the bulk of foreign visitors to North Korea, numbering roughly 350,000 in 2019 and providing a huge revenue stream for Pyongyang, according to NK News, a specialist website that provides analyses of the country. 
By comparison, around 5,000 Western tourists visited North Korea each year from 2009, with US citizens accounting for 20 percent of those, according to the 38 North programme at the Washington-based Stimson Center.
bur-isk/dhw/jm

politics

Trump says Russia can deliver oil to Cuba

BY LAURENT THOMET

  • Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about "taking" the island.
  • US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Moscow could send oil to Cuba despite Washington's de facto fuel blockade, as a Russian tanker was expected to deliver some much-needed crude to the crisis-hit island.
  • Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about "taking" the island.
US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Moscow could send oil to Cuba despite Washington's de facto fuel blockade, as a Russian tanker was expected to deliver some much-needed crude to the crisis-hit island.
While the shipment would give the country some relief, Trump renewed his threats against the communist government, predicting that it would fail "within a short period of time."
The Anatoly Kolodkin, which is carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, was off northeast Cuba on Sunday evening and is expected to dock in the western port of Matanzas by Tuesday, according to shipping tracker MarineTraffic.
It would be the first shipment of oil to the island since January, bringing some temporary relief to the country of 9.6 million people that has endured a deepening energy and economic crisis.
"If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it's Russia or not," Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
"Cuba's finished, they have a bad regime, they have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil it's not going to matter," Trump said.
"I'd prefer letting it in, whether it's Russia or anybody else, because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you need," he added.
Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January when US forces captured Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about "taking" the island.
"Within a short period of time, it's going to fail, and we will be there to help it out," he said Sunday.
"We'll be there to help our great Cuban Americans out who were thrown out of Cuba, in many cases, their family members were mutilated and killed by (Fidel) Castro...Cuba's going to be next."

Daily outages

After Washington launched the oil blockade, President Miguel Diaz-Canel imposed emergency measures to conserve fuel, including strict rationing of gasoline.
He warned this month that "any external aggressor will encounter an unbreakable resistance."
Fuel prices have soared, public transport has dwindled and some airlines have suspended flights to Cuba, hitting the country's fragile economy.
Cubans have endured regular outages as its aging power plants struggle to meet demand, with seven nationwide blackouts since 2024, including two this month,  sparking rare protests.
A humanitarian aid convoy brought more than 50 tonnes of medicine, food, solar panels and other goods to Cuba by air and sea in recent days.
The Anatoly Kolodkin, which is under US sanctions, left the Russian port of Primorsk on March 8.
It was escorted by a Russian navy ship across the English Channel, but the two vessels parted ways when the tanker entered the Atlantic Ocean, according to the British Royal Navy.
The New York Times, citing an unnamed US official briefed on the matter, said the US Coast Guard was allowing the tanker to reach Cuba.
The US Coast Guard did not reply to an AFP request for comment. 
Another ship that was reportedly carrying Russian diesel to Cuba, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, rerouted to Venezuela this week.

Diesel an 'urgent need'

Once the Anatoly Kolodkin's crude arrives in Cuba, it would take about 15-20 days to process the oil and another 5-10 days to deliver its refined products, according to Jorge Pinon, an expert on Cuba's energy sector at the University of Texas at Austin.
"The urgent need today in Cuba is diesel," the former oil executive said.
The Russian shipment could be converted into 250,000 barrels of diesel, enough to cover the country's demand for around 12.5 days, Pinon said.
Pinon said the government would have to decide whether to use the fuel for backup power generators or for buses, tractors and trains needed to keep the economy going for two weeks.
"If you are Diaz-Canel or somebody making the decision, you go, 'OK, where where do I go with that diesel?'" he said.
"Do I want to generate more electricity so there are less apagones (blackouts)? Or do I want to put it in the transportation sector?"
lt/jgc

misinformation

Dubious AI detectors drive 'pay-to-humanize' scam

BY ANUJ CHOPRA, WITH EDE ZABORSZKY IN VIENNA, MAGDALINI GKOGKOU IN ATHENS AND LIESA PAUWELS IN THE HAGUE

  • The tools returned AI flags regardless of input -- even for nonsensical text.
  • Feed an Iranian news dispatch or a literary classic into some text detectors, and they return the same verdict: AI-generated.
  • The tools returned AI flags regardless of input -- even for nonsensical text.
Feed an Iranian news dispatch or a literary classic into some text detectors, and they return the same verdict: AI-generated. Then comes the pitch: pay to "humanize" the writing, a pattern experts say bears the hallmarks of a scam.
As AI falsehoods explode across social media, often outpacing the capacity of professional fact-checkers, bogus detectors risk adding another layer of deception to an already fractured information ecosystem.
While even reliable AI detectors can produce false results, researchers say a crop of fraudulent tools has emerged online, easily weaponized to discredit authentic content and tarnish reputations.
AFP's fact-checkers identified three such text detectors that claim to estimate what percentage is AI-generated. The tools -- prompted in four languages -- not only misidentified authentic text as AI-generated but also attempted to monetize those errors.
One detector, JustDone AI, processed a human-written report about the US-Iran war and wrongly concluded it contained "88% AI content." It then offered to scrub any trace of AI for a fee.
"Your AI text is humanizing," the site claimed, leading to a page where "100% unique text" was locked behind a paywall charging up to $9.99.
Two other tools -- TextGuard and Refinely -- produced similar false positives and sought to monetize them.

'Scams'

AFP presented its findings to all three detectors.
"Our system operates using modern AI models, and the results it provides are considered accurate within our technology," TextGuard's support team told AFP.
"At the same time, we cannot guarantee or compare results with other systems."
JustDone also reiterated that "no AI detector can guarantee 100 percent accuracy."
It acknowledged the free version of its AI detector "may provide less precise results" due to "high demand and the use of a lighter model designed for quick access."
Echoing AFP's findings, one user on a review platform complained that "even with 100% human-written material, JustDone still flags it as AI."
AFP fed the tools multiple human-written samples -- in Dutch, Greek, Hungarian, and English. All were wrongly flagged as having high AI content, including passages from an acclaimed 1916 Hungarian classic.
The tools returned AI flags regardless of input -- even for nonsensical text.
JustDone and Refinely appeared to operate even without an internet connection, suggesting their results may be scripted rather than genuine technical analysis.
"These are not AI detectors but scams to sell a 'humanizing' tool that will often return what we call 'tortured phrases'" -- unrelated jargon or nonsensical alternatives -- Debora Weber-Wulff, a Germany-based academic who has researched detection tools, told AFP.

'Liar's dividend'

Illustrating how such tools can be used to discredit individuals, pro‑government influencers in Hungary claimed earlier this year that a document outlining the opposition's election campaign had been entirely created by AI.
To support the unfounded allegation, they circulated screenshots on social media showing results from JustDone.
The tools tested by AFP sought to lure students and academics as clients, with two of them claiming their users came from top institutions such as Cornell University.
Cornell University told AFP it "does not have any established relations with AI detector companies."
"Generative AI does provide an increased risk that students may use it to submit work that is not their own," the university said.
"Unfortunately, it is unlikely that detection technologies will provide a workable solution to this problem. It can be very difficult to accurately detect AI-generated content."
Fact-checkers, including those from AFP, often rely on AI visual detection tools developed by experts, which typically look for hidden watermarks and other digital clues.
However, they too can sometimes produce errors, making it necessary to supplement their findings with additional evidence such as open-source data.
The stakes are high as false readings from unreliable detectors threaten to erode trust in AI verification broadly -- and feed a disinformation tactic researchers have dubbed the "liar's dividend": dismissing authentic content as AI fabrications.
"We often report on misinformers and other hoaxsters using AI to fabricate false images and videos," said Waqar Rizvi from the misinformation tracker NewsGuard.
"Now, (we are) monitoring the opposite, but no less insidious phenomenon: claims that a visual was created by AI when in fact, it's authentic."
burs-ac/dw 

Global Edition

Forty new migratory species win international protection: UN body

  • The countries that are party to the CMS are legally obliged to protect species listed as at risk of extinction, conserve and restore their habitats, prevent obstacles to migration and cooperate with other range states.
  • The UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) on Sunday approved the listing of 40 new species for international protection, including the snowy owl featured in the Harry Potter saga. 
  • The countries that are party to the CMS are legally obliged to protect species listed as at risk of extinction, conserve and restore their habitats, prevent obstacles to migration and cooperate with other range states.
The UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) on Sunday approved the listing of 40 new species for international protection, including the snowy owl featured in the Harry Potter saga. 
The decision came at the conclusion of the COP15 summit on migratory species in Campo Verde, Brazil, which brought together representatives from 132 countries and the European Union.
It is one of the world's most important global meetings for wildlife conservation.
Also on the new list for protection along with the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) are the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) -- a long-beaked shorebird threatened with extinction -- and the great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran).
The new list featured land mammals like the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and other aquatic wildlife such as the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
The countries that are party to the CMS are legally obliged to protect species listed as at risk of extinction, conserve and restore their habitats, prevent obstacles to migration and cooperate with other range states.
Campo Verde is in Brazil's biodiversity-rich Pantanal wetlands, in the southern Amazon.
According to a report released ahead of the summit, nearly half (49 percent) of all species catalogued by the CMS are showing signs of declining numbers, and nearly one in four are threatened with extinction on a worldwide scale.
Another major UN assessment, published on Tuesday as the summit opened, warned that migratory freshwater fish populations crucial to river health and sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people are in freefall and risk collapse.
Habitat destruction, overfishing and water pollution from the Amazon to the Danube threaten the very survival of hundreds of species whose epic voyages along the world's great rivers go largely unnoticed.
Last November, Brazil hosted the COP30 climate summit in the Amazonian city of Belem.
lg/sst/dw