US

War in the Middle East: latest developments

Earlier, the US embassy warned that "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours".

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - 'Maximum effort' - Iraq is exerting "maximum effort" to prevent any escalation on its territory, the foreign ministry said, after the US embassy in Baghdad warned of possible attacks in the city by pro-Iran armed groups.
Earlier, the US embassy warned that "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours".

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

'Maximum effort'

Iraq is exerting "maximum effort" to prevent any escalation on its territory, the foreign ministry said, after the US embassy in Baghdad warned of possible attacks in the city by pro-Iran armed groups.

Earlier, the US embassy warned that "Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours".

US Baghdad centre hit

A drone attack targeted the US diplomatic and logistics centre in Baghdad's international airport complex, causing a fire but no injuries, two Iraqi security sources told AFP.

'Immediate' reopening

Around 40 countries called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Britain's foreign minister said.

"Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail. To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea," Yvette Cooper said in a statement after international talks.

Yemen missile

The Israeli military said it had detected a missile launched from Yemen towards Israel's territory, the fourth time it has detected such an attack since the start of the war, saying air defences were working to intercept it.

Force in Hormuz

The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for the UN Security Council to authorise the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks.

"We call upon the Security Council to assume its full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the safe continuation of international navigation," said Jassem al-Budaiwi.

Blasts over Jerusalem

Several blasts sounded in Jerusalem, AFP journalists said, after the military issued an alert over incoming Iranian missiles.

At least four blasts were heard as sirens rang out in the city, and the military warned residents to take cover after it "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel".

China condemns

China's foreign minister Wang Yi said US and Israeli attacks on Iran were a violation of international law, Chinese state media reported, as he held calls with his EU, German and Saudi counterparts.

Wang also said the UN Security Council -- of which China is a permanent member -- "should prevent the escalation of conflict", state broadcaster CCTV said, as the international body debates a draft resolution on the use of force in the Strait of Hormuz.

Bridge struck

US-Israeli strikes hit the B1 bridge near Tehran, which had already been hit around an hour earlier, Iranian state TV reported, adding that the first strike had caused two civilian casualties.

The later attack took place as emergency teams were deployed to the site to help victims of the first strike.

Expelled

Argentina expelled Iran's diplomatic envoy, Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, following "false, offensive and baseless accusations" by Tehran, the foreign ministry said.

'Wider war'

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that the Middle East conflict risked spiralling into a wider war, and called for an immediate halt to US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iranian attacks on its neighbours.

"We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe," the secretary-general told reporters in New York.

Food disaster

Italy's foreign minister called for the establishment of a "humanitarian corridor" for fertiliser and other essentials through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid a food disaster, particularly among vulnerable nations in Africa.

burs/yad/jhb

US

UK-led Hormuz talks demand 'immediate' reopening of Hormuz

BY PETER HUTCHISON AND HELEN ROWE

"To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea," she added.

A UK-led meeting of some 40 countries on the strait of Hormuz crisis wrapped up Thursday with a demand for the "immediate and unconditional" reopening of the vital shipping route, but no immediate breakthrough.
"To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea," she added.

A UK-led meeting of some 40 countries on the strait of Hormuz crisis wrapped up Thursday with a demand for the "immediate and unconditional" reopening of the vital shipping route, but no immediate breakthrough.

"Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail," British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement.

"To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea," she added.

The strait has been virtually closed since the US-Israeli war against Iran started on February 28, impacting global supplies of important commodities including oil, liquid natural gas, and fertiliser.

That has led to a sharp rise in energy prices.

The foreign ministers and representatives who joined the call discussed a range of areas of "possible collective, coordinated, action," Cooper added.

This could include increased diplomatic pressure, including through the UN, as well as possible sanctions, she said.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meanwhile called Thursday for the UN Security Council to authorise the use of force to protect the key waterway.

Bahrain has proposed a draft resolution that would greenlight states to use "all necessary means" to assure free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the measure has divided the 15-member Security Council, with Russia, China and France -- who each hold veto privileges -- all voicing strong objections.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajanialso, who joined the virtual talks, called for a "humanitarian corridor" for fertiliser and other essentials through the strait to avoid a food disaster in Africa.

Cooper earlier slammed Iran's "recklessness" over the strait as she kicked off the virtual meeting.

She said Iran's blockade of the waterway was "hitting our global economic security".

Around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait in peacetime.

A total of 37 countries have signed a statement, first published last month, expressing "readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through" the shipping lane.

Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands are among those to have signed it.

The United States, China, and most Middle Eastern countries have not, according to a list provided by the UK government.

'Unrealistic'

A spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said securing the Strait of Hormuz could "only take place once the intense phase of the bombing is over".

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking on a visit to South Korea, said a military operation to liberate the Strait of Hormuz was "unrealistic", while lamenting Trump's differing daily statements on the Iran war and NATO.

"There are those who advocate for the liberation of the Strait of Hormuz by force through a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States," Macron said.

"I say sometimes because it has varied, it is never the option we have chosen and we consider it unrealistic," he said.

The virtual meeting hosted by Britain came after Trump urged oil-importing nations to show "courage" and seize the narrow strait.

"The countries of the world that ... receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage," Trump said in a prime-time address late Wednesday.

"Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves," he added.

Trump has said he would consider a ceasefire only when Hormuz is "free and clear".

Many countries have however insisted any operation to protect seafarers using the strait could only come after a ceasefire.

"We are also convening military planners to look at how we marshal our collective defensive military capabilities, including looking at issues such as de-mining," Cooper told Thursday's meeting.

The channel normally sees around 120 daily transits, according to shipping industry intelligence site Lloyd's List.

But since March 1, commodities carriers have made just 225 crossings, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler, a 94-percent decrease on peacetime.

pdh-har/jkb/yad

art

'Extraordinary news': Dutch recover stolen gold Romanian helmet

BY RICHARD CARTER

Under huge pressure from Romania, Dutch authorities have made multiple attempts to convince the suspects to tell them where the treasures are stashed.

Dutch authorities on Thursday showed off a recovered priceless gold 2,500-year-old helmet from Romania that was stolen last year during a brazen heist in the Netherlands.
Under huge pressure from Romania, Dutch authorities have made multiple attempts to convince the suspects to tell them where the treasures are stashed.

Dutch authorities on Thursday showed off a recovered priceless gold 2,500-year-old helmet from Romania that was stolen last year during a brazen heist in the Netherlands.

Flanked by balaclava-clad police officers, a spokesman for Dutch prosecutors unveiled the 5th-century BC golden Helmet of Cotofenesti and two of the three gold bracelets stolen in January 2025.

Dutch police officer Corien Fahner said: "the Cotofenesti helmet and two Dacian gold bracelets have been returned and we are delighted to be able to announce this."

The search for the third bracelet is ongoing, said Fahner.

The theft had sparked outrage in Romania and prompted a huge police search.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand had confirmed the find to AFP hours earlier on Thursday.

"It's amazing. It's the best news we could have got," said Brand.

A gang of robbers used firework bombs to break into the Drents Museum in the northern Netherlands in January 2025, and smashed display cases inside.

Three men are on trial for the theft but have largely remained silent in court.

Brand said he and police have been working their contacts to persuade the alleged robbers to hand over the helmet in exchange for a more lenient punishment.

"We were pretty sure it had not been melted down because there were only four days between the robbery and the arrests," said Brand.

"It's a fantastic job by the Dutch police."

Museum director Robert van Langh told reporters that there was a tiny bit of damage to the helmet, "very difficult even to see."

The helmet can be "completely restored to its original state," said van Langh, who added that the two bracelets were in "perfect condition."

Under huge pressure from Romania, Dutch authorities have made multiple attempts to convince the suspects to tell them where the treasures are stashed.

Police offered to halve the sentence of one suspect if he revealed the location of the helmet.

An undercover officer posing as a criminal mastermind reportedly offered another suspect 400,000 euros ($420,000) to tell him where the booty was hidden.

Police have also offered a reward of 100,000 euros for information leading to the helmet's recovery.

'People are devastated'

The theft and the search for the Dacian artefacts has gripped the Netherlands and regularly makes headline news.

In the aftermath of the theft, then Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu voiced outrage that "priceless objects" had been stolen and was considering claiming "unprecedented damages".

"You have no idea what the impact of this is on the Romanian community," Romanian cultural journalist Claudia Marcu, who has lived in the Netherlands since 2003, told public broadcaster NOS.

"When I heard about the theft I thought: for the Dutch this would be like (Rembrandt's) 'The Night Watch' being stolen. People are devastated."

The Dutch government had set aside 5.7 million euros ($6.5 million) for a likely payout following the brazen theft.

The pieces were on loan from a Bucharest museum, whose head was promptly sacked for lending the works out in the first place.

Dutch museums and galleries have been targeted by thieves in the past -- including in November when works by artist Andy Warhol were taken, as well as a Van Gogh stolen from a museum in 2020.

The heists have prompted calls for better security to protect valuable artworks.

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu described the find as "extraordinary news."

"It is so important not to give up when something is so valuable to multiple generations," said the minister.

ric/ach

politics

Cubans demand end of US embargo in bike protest

The country has been under a US trade embargo since 1962, which the government blames for Cuba's economic hardship.

Hundreds of Cubans demonstrated in front of the US embassy in Havana on Thursday, riding bicycles and electric vehicles as they waved flags and signs demanding an end to the decades-old trade embargo on the country.
The country has been under a US trade embargo since 1962, which the government blames for Cuba's economic hardship.

Hundreds of Cubans demonstrated in front of the US embassy in Havana on Thursday, riding bicycles and electric vehicles as they waved flags and signs demanding an end to the decades-old trade embargo on the country.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel greeted the crowd before the "anti-imperialist youth parade" set out across the capital's famed oceanfront Malecon.

The demonstration comes as US President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on Cuba's communist government, imposing a de facto oil blockade since January and musing about "taking" the island.

The country has been under a US trade embargo since 1962, which the government blames for Cuba's economic hardship.

The demonstrators rode bicycles and electric cargo tricycles that have proliferated as an alternative mode of transportation amid fuel shortages.

"We have a lot to defend," Daniel Martinez, an 18-year-old student who cheered on the demonstrators near the US embassy, told AFP. "The more united we are, the better."

The oil blockade has deepened the country's energy crisis, with Cubans enduring regular blackouts along with fuel rationing, soaring gasoline prices and falling tourism.

"They are strangling us," said Ivan Beltran, 62, who rode his electric tricycle with a photo of the late Cuban revolution leader Fidel Castro on the windshield.

Trump gave Cuba a reprieve from the oil embargo this week as he allowed a Russian tanker to bring 730,000 barrels of crude to the island.

Russia announced Thursday that it was preparing to send a second oil tanker to Cuba.

lis/lt/sms

space

Artemis astronauts await green light for lunar orbit

BY CHARLOTTE CAUSIT WITH CHRIS LEFKOW IN WASHINGTON

NASA head Jared Isaacman said a communications problem had been resolved and the astronauts were "in great spirits."

The four Artemis astronauts circling Earth were awaiting the green light from NASA on Thursday to head for the Moon and carry out the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.
NASA head Jared Isaacman said a communications problem had been resolved and the astronauts were "in great spirits."

The four Artemis astronauts circling Earth were awaiting the green light from NASA on Thursday to head for the Moon and carry out the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.

The enormous orange-and-white Space Launch System (SLS) rocket blasted off flawlessly from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday for the long-anticipated journey around the Moon.

The astronauts -- Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen -- spent their first hours in space performing checks and troubleshooting minor problems on their Orion capsule -- including a communications issue and a malfunctioning toilet.

Before getting a few hours of sleep, they ignited the spacecraft's main engine to place it in a high Earth orbit, the US space agency said.

NASA's mission management team will meet later Thursday to perform an assessment of the spacecraft's performance and decide whether to give the go-ahead for the astronauts to begin their three-day voyage toward the Moon.

The "go/no go" decision for the translunar injection burn (TLI) is scheduled for 7:07 pm Eastern Time (2307 GMT).

Assuming everything checks out, the TLI that will send the astronauts on their way is scheduled for 25 minutes later.

Orion is to loop around the Moon as part of the 10-day Artemis 2 mission aimed at paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

'Brave astronauts'

US President Donald Trump praised "our brave astronauts" at the top of his televised address on Wednesday evening on the war against Iran, calling the launch "quite something."

Before their rest period, the astronauts performed various checks to ensure the reliability and safety of a spacecraft that has never carried humans before.

NASA said they carried out "proximity operations," which tested how the Orion capsule can move relative to another spacecraft, and maneuvers that mimic what would be needed to dock with a lunar lander.

Among the issues they identified was a "controller issue with the toilet when they spun it up," said Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator.

NASA head Jared Isaacman said a communications problem had been resolved and the astronauts were "in great spirits."

"NASA is back in the business of sending people to the Moon," he said.

The mission marks a series of historic accomplishments: sending the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If all proceeds smoothly, the astronauts will set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before.

It is also the inaugural crewed flight of SLS, NASA's new lunar rocket.

SLS is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.

It was meant to take off as early as February after years of delays and massive cost overruns.

But repeated setbacks stalled it and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for repairs.

Compete with China

The current era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort to compete with China, which aims to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

During a post-launch briefing, Isaacman said competition was "a great way to mobilize the resources of a nation."

"Competition can be a good thing," he said. "And we certainly have competition now."

The Artemis program has come under pressure from Trump, who has pushed its pace with the hope that boots will hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

But the projected date of 2028 for a landing has raised eyebrows among some experts, in part because Washington is relying heavily on the private sector's technological headway.

cl/acb

Global Edition

Oil climbs, stocks slip as Trump dashes hopes of quick end of war

"Trump didn't offer a clear path to a relatively quick resolution to the Iran war or a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," said Charles Schwab analyst Joe Mazzola.

Oil surged and stocks fell on Thursday after Donald Trump threatened more heavy strikes on Iran and offered no solution to reopening the key Strait of Hormuz.
"Trump didn't offer a clear path to a relatively quick resolution to the Iran war or a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," said Charles Schwab analyst Joe Mazzola.

Oil surged and stocks fell on Thursday after Donald Trump threatened more heavy strikes on Iran and offered no solution to reopening the key Strait of Hormuz.

But stocks clawed back some of their losses and oil receeded from its highs ahead of a three-day weekend that will allow investors to catch their breaths as they await for new developments in the Middle East war.

Investors had initially found little solace in the US president's address to the nation, in which he again urged countries dependent on the waterway for energy supplies to reopen it themselves.

"Trump didn't offer a clear path to a relatively quick resolution to the Iran war or a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," said Charles Schwab analyst Joe Mazzola.

After being down more than one percent, European markets closed mixed with London higher, and Paris and Frankfurt slightly lower.

New York shares had opened sharply lower but by late morning had clawed back most of their losses.

Signs of de-escalation had buoyed markets in recent sessions, but Trump's late Wednesday televised speech dashed those hopes.

"Trump's much anticipated address delivered little to nothing new on potential timelines or conditions for ending hostilities against Iran," said Deutsche Bank managing director Jim Reid. "There was no signal of the US seeking an imminent offramp out of the war."

International oil benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, which had fallen below $100 a barrel ahead of Trump's speech, went on to rally around eight percent to above $109 per barrel, but had retreated to about $106 by late afternoon in Europe.

London was one of the few markets to rise, finishing 0.6 percent higher, boosted by oil companies BP and Shell rising almost three percent.

Paris dropped about half a percent, even as oil giant TotalEnergies was up almost three percent on reports it made a one billion dollar profit in March trading petroleum products.

Most markets in Europe and the United States are closed Friday for Good Friday.

Earlier in the day, Tokyo closed down more than two percent and Hong Kong and Shanghai also fell.

World Bank Managing Director Paschal Donohoe said he was fearful about the global economic impact of the crisis.

"We are extremely concerned regarding the effect that this will have on inflation, on jobs and on food security," he told AFP as the Bank partners with the International Monetary Fund and International Energy Agency to coordinate aid responses.

Key figures at around 1550 GMT

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 6.3 percent at $107.47 a barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 10.2 percent at $110.36 a barrel

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 46,422.74 points

New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.2 percent at 6,562.98

New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 0,2 percent at 21,790.97

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.7 percent at 10,436.29 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,962.39 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 23,168.08 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.4 percent at 52,463.27 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,116.53 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.7 percent at 3,919.29 (close)

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1549 from $1.1586 on Wednesday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3240 from $1.3305

Dollar/yen: UP at 159.30 from 158.88 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 87.27 pence from 87.08 pence

dan-ajb/gv/giv

US

Iran vows 'crushing' attacks on US after Trump threats

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

"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," he said.

Iran on Thursday threatened "crushing" attacks on the United States and Israel, firing missiles at Tel Aviv after US President Donald Trump vowed to bomb the Islamic republic "back to the Stone Ages".
"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," he said.

Iran on Thursday threatened "crushing" attacks on the United States and Israel, firing missiles at Tel Aviv after US President Donald Trump vowed to bomb the Islamic republic "back to the Stone Ages".

The war, which was started more than a month ago by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has spread throughout the Middle East and roiled the global economy, impacting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

In a White House address, Trump said the US was "very close" to achieving its objectives but warned its attacks would intensify if Iran did not reach a negotiated settlement.

"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," he said.

Iran's response was immediate, with Israeli air defences pressed into action. Four people were reportedly lightly injured in the Tel Aviv area. AFP journalists in Jerusalem hear fresh blasts on Thursday evening.

In Tehran, AFP journalists reported a series of loud explosions, sending reverberations across the city. The targets were unclear.

Iranian state TV said that US-Israeli strikes hit a bridge in Karaj, west of Tehran, twice Thursday, with the first strike leaving two civilian casualties and the second coming as emergency teams were deployed.

The country's two largest steel plants have meanwhile been forced offline by several waves of US and Israeli attacks, the companies said.

Despite the bombardments, families gathered at Tehran's Melat park, with men smoking water pipes and children running around playgrounds, to mark the 13th day after Nowruz, the Persian New Year, when people traditionally picnic outdoors, AFP journalists said.

A 30-year-old resident told AFP there was an increase in checkpoints throughout the city manned by Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

"They gather in the streets in order to show people that they are still in power and nothing is gonna change," said the man, who requested his name not be used.

In Israel, Jewish Israelis were celebrating Passover, which some were forced to do underground due to Iran's attacks.

"This is not my first choice," said a writer who gave his name as Jeffrey, at a meal organised in a Tel Aviv bunker.

'Much more reasonable'

The war continues to disrupt shipping, with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressing the "urgent need" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world's oil usually passes.

Trump has urged oil-importing countries to seize the key waterway, which has been virtually closed since the war began, though French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday a military operation to liberate the strait is "unrealistic".

Italy called for a "humanitarian corridor" to be opened through the strait for fertiliser, to head off a food disaster in Africa.

Trump has said talks to end the war could be possible with Iran's new leadership, which he described as "less radical and much more reasonable" than their predecessors.

Tehran has dismissed Washington's ceasefire overtures, describing US demands to end the conflict as "maximalist and irrational".

"Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the ISNA news agency Thursday.

Trump warned that if no agreement with Tehran was struck, Washington had "our eyes on key targets including the country's electric generating plants".

The country's health ministry said the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a century-old medical centre in Tehran, had been extensively damaged in a strike.

In Lebanon, militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday.

A day earlier, Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander, two sources told AFP, in a Beirut strike that the Lebanese health ministry said killed seven people.

Authorities in Lebanon say Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,300 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.

From Iraq to Bhutan

The conflict has drawn in Gulf countries once seen as a safe haven in a volatile region, with air defences in the United Arab Emirates responding to missile and drone attacks on Thursday.

The war has also highlighted the importance of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have vowed to keep it shut to the country's "enemies" while Trump has made reopening it a condition for a ceasefire.

China, a major importer of oil through the shipping lane, blamed the United States and Israel for being the "root cause" of the blockage.

Trump's speech did nothing to reassure markets, as oil prices spiked and stocks tumbled.

The World Bank's Managing Director Paschal Donohoe told AFP the institution was "extremely concerned" about the war's impact on inflation, jobs and food security.

The economic fallout is being felt worldwide, with airlines in China saying they will hike fuel surcharges and Malaysian civil servants being asked to work from home.

Iraq's oil export revenues in March dropped more than 70 percent from February, an Iraqi official said Thursday.

Even the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is feeling the impact as fuel prices spiked.

AFP reporters in the capital Thimphu saw long queues at petrol stations on Thursday amid shortages in the landlocked nation of around 800,000 people.

"It's not like our government is responsible, they are trying their best," said Karma Kalden, 40.

"We are helpless."

burs-nro/dcp

Israel

Which countries' ships are hit by Hormuz crisis?

- Greece - After the UAE, next on the list is Greece: its companies have at least 75 commodity vessels that have been in the strait since the beginning of the war -- around 12 percent of the total.

Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations.
- Greece - After the UAE, next on the list is Greece: its companies have at least 75 commodity vessels that have been in the strait since the beginning of the war -- around 12 percent of the total.

Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations.

Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from the nearby United Arab Emirates accounting for 120 -- around 18 percent of the total.

The war erupted on February 28 when the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran, sparking retaliatory strikes across the region -- with Tehran's forces targeting the crucial waterway.

The figures may understate the true totals as some vessels may have turned off their transponders.

Greece

After the UAE, next on the list is Greece: its companies have at least 75 commodity vessels that have been in the strait since the beginning of the war -- around 12 percent of the total.

Of those vessels, around 30 are oil or gas tankers, according to an analysis of Bloomberg data, which collates information from various organisations.

China

Asian countries have been hit hard by the shutdown.

Chinese companies account for 74 commodity vessels in the area, 25 of which are oil and gas tankers. The remainder are dry bulk carriers such as container ships.

Japan

Japanese companies have at least 23 oil and gas vessels and 16 dry carriers in the strait.

Added to that, 25 vessels from Hong Kong -- 13 oil and gas, 12 dry -- are also in the region.

India

India-based companies have 24 oil and gas vessels in the area.

Singapore and South Korea companies have also been affected, with 29 and 22 commodity vessels respectively stuck since the war began.

Vietnam has three large gas carriers in the area.

Oil and gas

Around 50 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) appear to be stuck, along with 11 Very Large Gas Carriers.

South Korea accounts for seven of the VLCCs, China and Japan companies each account for six, and Greece for five.

Iran-linked vessels

Of the 225 crossings by commodity carriers since the start of the war, more than 40 were by Iranian vessels, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

A further 60 were by vessels that are not flagged or directly owned by Iran but are sanctioned by the US under its Iran program.

Greek, Chinese crossings

Some 35 crossings have been made by Greek-owned vessels, including eight by one company, Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd.

At least 20 Chinese-affiliated vessels and 13 Indian-linked vessels have made the journey.

Some vessels appeared to have crossed the strait via a vetting system in which Iran grants safe passage to certain vessels from friendly countries.

US ships targeted

Hundreds of vessels seem to be waiting out the war, given the sky-high insurance costs and danger to life and cargo.

Of the vessels in the area reporting attacks or suspicious activity, around a half were linked to Europe or the United States, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations and publicly-available ownership information.

jwp/rlp/cw

diplomacy

Macron says Trump marriage jibe does not 'merit response'

BY FRANCESCO FONTEMAGGI AND SIMON STURDEE WITH ANNA SMOLCHENKO IN PARIS

On a visit to Seoul, Macron, who was accompanied by his wife Brigitte, said Trump's comments were "neither elegant nor up to standard".

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday Donald Trump's mocking comments about his marriage did not merit a response, calling them "neither elegant nor up to standard".
On a visit to Seoul, Macron, who was accompanied by his wife Brigitte, said Trump's comments were "neither elegant nor up to standard".

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday Donald Trump's mocking comments about his marriage did not merit a response, calling them "neither elegant nor up to standard".

But after days of tensions over US-Israeli strikes on Iran and over NATO, an apparently irritated Macron launched a broadside of his own, saying "there is too much talk" and "this is not a show".

On Wednesday, Trump made fun of the French president and his wife at a private lunch as he lambasted NATO allies for not joining the war against Iran. The US president imitated a French accent and said that Macron's wife "treats him extremely badly" and that Macron was still "recovering from the right to the jaw".

On a visit to Seoul, Macron, who was accompanied by his wife Brigitte, said Trump's comments were "neither elegant nor up to standard".

"So I am not going to respond to them -- they do not merit a response," Macron told reporters.

The focus instead should be on "work towards de-escalation" in the Middle East and a ceasefire, Macron said.

"There is too much talk, and it's all over the place," the French president said, apparently referring to numerous policy U-turns by Trump.

"We all need stability, calm, a return to peace -- this isn't a show!" Macron said.

- 'Mocking others' -

Trump's latest broadside against Macron angered French politicians.

"Honestly, it's not up to par," said Yael Braun-Pivet, president of France's lower house of parliament.

"We are currently discussing the future of the world. Right now in Iran, this is having consequences for the lives of millions of people, people are dying on the battlefield, and we have a president who is laughing, who is mocking others," she told franceinfo.

Even Manuel Bompard, coordinator of the hard-left France Unbowed party who is often critical of the president, rushed to Macron's defence.

"You are aware of the extent of my disagreements with the president, but for Donald Trump to speak to him like that and to speak of his wife in such a manner -- I find that absolutely unacceptable," Bompard told broadcaster BFMTV.

Conservative French daily Le Figaro said: "Another controversial outburst from Donald Trump."

- 'Still recovering' -

Trump mocked Macron and the French in a video posted briefly on the White House YouTube channel before access was blocked.

"We didn't need them, but I asked anyway," Trump said.

"I call up France, Macron -- whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw," Trump said.

The US president was referring to a May 2025 news video that appeared to show Brigitte Macron shoving the French president's face on a trip to Vietnam, which Macron later rejected as part of a disinformation campaign.

At the time Macron denied any "domestic dispute" with his wife, saying they were "joking as we often do".

"And I said, 'Emmanuel, we'd love to have some help in the Gulf even though we're setting records on knocking out bad people and knocking out ballistic missiles. We'd love to have some help. If you could, could you please send ships immediately,'" Trump continued.

He then mimics a French accent to give Macron's alleged answer: "'No no no, we cannot do that, Donald. We can do that after the war is won,'" he said.

"I said, 'No no, I don't need after the war is won Emmanuel,'" Trump said.

"So I learned about NATO -- NATO won't be there if we ever have the big one, you know what I mean by the big one," Trump said, without elaborating.

He also branded NATO a "paper tiger", the latest salvo by Trump and his top officials against the transatlantic alliance since he returned to the White House last year.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "is going to have to reexamine" its relationship with NATO once the war against Iran has concluded.

llb-fff-roc-stu-as/ekf/ah/giv

SKorea

French President Macron lands in South Korea after Japan visit

Macron praised Europe's "predictability" on Wednesday while in Japan, contrasting it with those that "could hurt you without even informing you" in an apparent reference to the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday after visiting fellow US ally Japan, where he praised Europe's "predictability" in an apparent swipe at Donald Trump over the Iran war.
Macron praised Europe's "predictability" on Wednesday while in Japan, contrasting it with those that "could hurt you without even informing you" in an apparent reference to the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday after visiting fellow US ally Japan, where he praised Europe's "predictability" in an apparent swipe at Donald Trump over the Iran war.

Macron's two-day itinerary includes a summit with President Lee Jae Myung and a visit to a war memorial to pay tribute to French soldiers who fought in the Korean War, as well as an economic forum and dinner with K-pop stars and South Korean filmmakers.

In Japan, the French leader signed a roadmap on critical minerals and defence cooperation and held more talks on Thursday with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as well as meeting the imperial couple with his wife Brigitte Macron.

US President Trump called France "very unhelpful" over the Iran war on Tuesday and then made fun of Macron, saying a day later his wife "treats him extremely badly" while mimicking his accent.

Macron praised Europe's "predictability" on Wednesday while in Japan, contrasting it with those that "could hurt you without even informing you" in an apparent reference to the United States.

Trump also criticised South Korea the same day as he urged countries dependent on the Strait of Hormuz to help reopen the key oil route.

"Let the European countries do it. Let South Korea, who was not helpful to us, by the way. You know, we only have 45,000 soldiers in harm's way over there, right next to a nuclear force. Let South Korea do it," Trump said, referring to North Korea.

"Let Japan do it. They get 90 percent of their oil from the Strait. Let China do it. Let them all do it. What the hell are we doing it for?"

The United States has around 28,500 troops in South Korea.

In an opinion piece published Thursday in Le Figaro, South Korean President Lee called for stronger cooperation with France, particularly in key areas such as artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, hydrogen technologies and space.

"In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain international environment, partnerships between democratic nations that share common values are no longer merely desirable but are becoming strategically essential," Lee wrote.

Like other Asian economies, South Korea relies heavily on energy imports, including through the Strait of Hormuz, the effective closure of which has driven up energy prices and rattled the global economy.

The war has already prompted Seoul to impose a fuel price cap to ease pressure on its energy supply, the first such measure since 1997.

While the United States and Israel have said that their attacks on Iran are to stop it developing nuclear weapons -- an aim Tehran denies -- North Korea is thought to be light years ahead by comparison.

Despite years of sanctions and diplomatic isolation, Pyongyang is thought to have dozens of nuclear warheads and fissile material for many more, and has unveiled increasingly sophisticated delivery systems.

bur-cdl-fff/stu/pbt

tsunami

Major earthquake in Indonesia kills one, sparks panic

BY TONNY RARUNG WITH MARCHIO GORBIANO IN JAKARTA

A magnitude-9.1 quake struck the westernmost Aceh province in 2004, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 people in Indonesia. burs-mlr/pbt

A major 7.4-magnitude quake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia on Thursday, killing one person, damaging buildings and sending people running into the streets in panic.
A magnitude-9.1 quake struck the westernmost Aceh province in 2004, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 people in Indonesia. burs-mlr/pbt

A major 7.4-magnitude quake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia on Thursday, killing one person, damaging buildings and sending people running into the streets in panic.

The early-morning tremor in the Molucca Sea between the Sulawesi and Maluku island groups triggered waves up to 75 centimetres (2.5 feet) high in places and prompted a tsunami warning that was subsequently lifted.

"I didn't know what to do. I was just trying to save my family," street food vendor Siti Rohayati, 58, told AFP of the moment the quake hit during the breakfast rush in Manado in North Sulawesi province.

"All that mattered was getting my children away safely. I pushed all three of them and told them: 'Run!'"

One person was killed when a building collapsed in Manado, the region's search and rescue chief George Leo Mercy Randang told AFP.

The victim was "buried under the rubble", he said.

Agency spokesman Nuriadin Gumeleng later said three people in Manado suffered light injuries.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the tremor hit at a shallow depth of 35 kilometres (22 miles).

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initially said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) of the epicentre along the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Elevated waves were observed in nine locations in North Maluku, North Sulawesi and Gorontalo provinces, with the highest hitting 75 centimetres in North Minahasa, according to Indonesia's BMKG geological agency.

The PTWC lifted its warning just over two hours after the tremor, saying the tsunami threat "has now passed".

Budi Nurgianto, a 42-year-old resident of Ternate in North Maluku province, said he was inside his house when the tremor struck, sending people outside in terror.

"The quake was felt strongly. I heard it first from the walls of the house that shook," he said.

"When I went outside, there were many people outside. They were panicked. The quake was felt (for) quite long, more than a minute.

"I even saw some people leaving their house without having finished their shower."

Aftershocks

Dozens of aftershocks rippled through the area after the main quake, Teuku Faisal Fathani, the head of the geological agency, told journalists in the capital Jakarta.

One of them had a magnitude of 5.9, USGS data showed.

An AFP journalist in Manado, about 300 kilometres west of Ternate by sea, said the shaking woke him and others in the city of some 450,000 people.

"I immediately woke up and left my house. People (were) immediately scrambling outside. There is a school and the pupils rushed outside," he said.

The shaking persisted for "quite long" but he did not see "significant damage", he added.

The PTWC had initially warned that tsunami waves of up to one metre were possible for parts of Indonesia, and smaller ones were possible for the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Guam and Palau.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said it expected "slight changes" in the sea level along the Pacific coast from northern Hokkaido to southern Okinawa, but has not issued any warnings.

The earthquake centres of the Philippines and Malaysia also did not issue tsunami alerts.

Indonesia and neighbouring countries experience frequent earthquakes due to their location in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" -- an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

A magnitude-9.1 quake struck the westernmost Aceh province in 2004, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000 people in Indonesia.

burs-mlr/pbt

US

Middle East war: global economic fallout

Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometres (500 miles) by 60 yuan ($8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights.

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war: - China fuel surcharges - Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday.
Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometres (500 miles) by 60 yuan ($8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights.

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:

China fuel surcharges

Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday.

Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometres (500 miles) by 60 yuan ($8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights.

Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also announced fuel surcharge hikes.

Oil spikes

Oil prices spiked after Trump reiterated that US forces would hammer Iran for another two to three weeks but offered no solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has crippled global markets.

Brent crude, which had fallen back below $100 a barrel Wednesday, surged almost seven percent to hit $108.15, while West Texas Intermediate jumped more than five percent to $105.65.

Trump tells other countries to 'take care' of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump called Wednesday for countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz to show "courage" and seize the key waterway.

"The countries of the world that... receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage," Trump said in his first prime-time address since the start of the war with Iran.

"Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves."

Malaysia work-from-home push

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will introduce a work-from-home policy for ministries, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies starting April 15, to conserve energy while the Middle East war rages.

The policy "aims to reduce fuel consumption and ensure a stable energy supply", Anwar said during a special briefing late Wednesday.

UK meeting on Hormuz shipping

Britain will hold a meeting of about 35 countries Thursday to discuss how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

The meeting will "assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities", Starmer said.

World Bank 'extremely concerned'

The World Bank is "extremely concerned" about the effect the war on Iran will have on inflation, jobs and food security, and is in talks with member states on how to address immediate needs in the crisis, a top official told AFP.

Managing Director Paschal Donohoe's comments came as his organization announced a new partnership with the International Monetary Fund and International Energy Agency to coordinate aid responses to the war.

Germany outlook dims

Leading economic institutes cut their growth forecasts for Germany on Wednesday, warning that surging inflation resulting from the Middle East war and rising energy costs would hit Europe's biggest economy hard.

The German economy is expected to grow by 0.6 percent this year, the seven institutes said, down from a September forecast of 1.3 percent, while inflation is predicted to stand at 2.8 percent, up from 2.0 percent.

Bank of England warning

The Bank of England said the Middle East war had caused "a substantial negative supply shock to the global economy", increasing risks to the financial system.

Following a surge in oil prices that is set to push up overall inflation, the BoE said the fallout would also weigh on economic growth and tighten financial conditions, such as restricted lending by banks.

India fuel hike

India's oil ministry said that domestic jet fuel prices would rise as the Middle East war pushed up energy costs, but that it had cushioned airlines from an expected 100 percent jump.

Kuwait airport hit

Kuwait's international airport came under an Iranian drone attack that led to "a large fire" at fuel tanks, but no casualties were reported, the civil aviation authority said.

In a further sign of strain in the Gulf state, the National Bank of Kuwait said it would close its headquarters for two days along with another branch as Iran carries out daily strikes on the Gulf.

Save fuel, Australians

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged his countrymen to switch to public transport and save fuel for rural communities and essential services.

"Farmers and truckies, small businesses and families are doing it tough. And the reality is, the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months," Albanese said in a national address.

burs-ami/dan

US

War in the Middle East: latest developments

- Iran's president asked Americans if the Middle East conflict was truly putting "America First" and accused the US of war crimes and being influenced by Israel.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Hezbollah claims attacks - Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday, targeting troops and a village.
- Iran's president asked Americans if the Middle East conflict was truly putting "America First" and accused the US of war crimes and being influenced by Israel.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Hezbollah claims attacks

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel on Thursday, targeting troops and a village.

The Israeli military's Home Front Command said air raid sirens were activated across the border. There were no reports of any casualties or damage.

Israel under Iran missile fire

Israel's military said air defences responded to waves of Iranian missile fire early Thursday, including at least two attacks after US President Donald Trump delivered an address to the American public about the war.

After the first attack, police said officers were called to "several" impact sites in central Israel, and media reports citing medics said four people were lightly wounded.

Oil prices jump

Oil prices spiked after Trump reiterated that US forces would hammer Iran for another two to three weeks but offered no solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has crippled global markets.

Brent crude, which had fallen back below $100 a barrel Wednesday, surged almost seven percent to hit $108.15, while West Texas Intermediate jumped more than five percent to $105.65.

Australia doesn't see 'end point'

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original aims of the war in Iran had been met.

"Now those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like," he said during a speech in the capital Canberra.

"What is clear is that the longer the war goes on the more significant the impact on the global economy will be."

Trump vows big strikes

In a speech from the White House, Trump insisted that the United States was nearing victory in Iran, and vowed two to three more weeks of "extremely hard" strikes.

"We are going to finish the job, and we're going to finish it very fast. We're getting very close," he said in remarks that largely rehashed his daily streams of social-media postings and rapid media interviews.

Trump again threatened that if Iran does not reach a negotiated settlement with him, the United States would "hit each and every one of their electric generating plants."

Attacks on civilian energy infrastructure are widely considered to be illegal under the laws of war and could constitute a war crime.

UAE responds to 'threats

Emirati air defences were responding to missile and drone "threats" on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates' defence ministry said.

Since the war erupted, the UAE and other Gulf countries have been regularly targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes in retaliation for the US-Israeli campaign.

Iran calls US demands 'irrational'

Iran said Thursday that Washington's demands were "maximalist and irrational" and denied any negotiations were under way on a ceasefire to end the war in the Middle East.

"Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the ISNA news agency.

World Bank raises alarm

The World Bank is "extremely concerned" about the impact the conflict will have on inflation, jobs and food security, and is in talks with member states on how to address immediate needs in the crisis, a top official told AFP on Wednesday.

Managing Director Paschal Donohoe's comments came as his organization announced a new partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Energy Agency (IEA) to coordinate aid responses to the war.

Israel medics say 14 wounded

Israel's emergency services said 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl, were wounded near Tel Aviv during a missile attack that the military blamed on Iran.

Later in the day, medics said they were treating a 61-year-old man in mild condition with blast injuries in the north following fire from Lebanon, where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

'America First'?

Iran's president asked Americans if the Middle East conflict was truly putting "America First" and accused the US of war crimes and being influenced by Israel.

The US-Israeli attacks sow "instability, increase human and economic costs" and plant "seeds of resentment that will endure for years," said President Masoud Pezeshkian. "Exactly which of the American people's interests are truly being served by this war?"

Iran Guards say Hormuz closed to 'enemies'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards insisted that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will remain closed to the country's "enemies," as Trump said re-opening the strait was one of his conditions for a ceasefire.

bur-ami/fox

diplomacy

'Muted' international response as Senegal enacts same-sex relations law

BY BECCA MILFELD

Same-sex relations are seen as deviant by many in Senegal, a Muslim-majority country where defence of LGBTQ rights is viewed as a Western import, incompatible with local values.

While recent restrictions by a number of African nations on LGBTQ rights have elicited fierce criticism, international reaction has been more tepid as Senegal doubled its penalty for same-sex relations this week.
Same-sex relations are seen as deviant by many in Senegal, a Muslim-majority country where defence of LGBTQ rights is viewed as a Western import, incompatible with local values.

While recent restrictions by a number of African nations on LGBTQ rights have elicited fierce criticism, international reaction has been more tepid as Senegal doubled its penalty for same-sex relations this week.

Senegal's president signed the law, which appeared in the country's official gazette out Tuesday, amid a crackdown on the gay community that has seen dozens of arrests and an increase in heated anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

After the bill passed parliament in mid-March, a regional Belgian minister made headlines by questioning the French-speaking Wallonia region's funding for climate cooperation in the west African nation, infuriating Senegal's leadership.

But further calls to action by international actors have been few and far between.

While the UN human rights chief and UNAIDS urged the president not to sign the bill, "government-level reaction has been notably muted", Arlana Shikongo, communications officer with Pan Africa ILGA, the regional chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, told AFP.

Experts consulted by AFP said that a variety of factors could be at play, from the US exit as a major humanitarian actor to reluctance from the West, including former colonial power France, to lecture what is seen as a relatively stable democracy and critical partner.

'Vacuum'

Senegal's law was signed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye after passing by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly on March 11, where debate centred on whether the bill went far enough.

The new law punishes "acts against nature", a term used to signify same-sex relations, by five to 10 years' imprisonment, compared with one to five years previously.

It also provides for three to seven years in prison for those found guilty of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.

Same-sex relations are seen as deviant by many in Senegal, a Muslim-majority country where defence of LGBTQ rights is viewed as a Western import, incompatible with local values.

Videos of deputies ricocheted across the internet following the parliamentary debate, with lawmakers such as Diaraye Ba declaring that "homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country".

Ari Shaw, senior fellow at US-based LGBTQ research centre the Williams Institute, said that "anytime there are laws or policies passed that undermine the rights of LGBTQ people, that's something that demands global attention."

"The United States has historically been a primary driver of diplomatic pressure on LGBTQ rights globally," he told AFP.

But now under the administration of President Donald Trump "what we're seeing is a real vacuum in terms of global leadership on these issues."

Asked about the law, a US State Department spokesperson referred AFP "to the government of Senegal regarding legislation in its country".

'Important partner'

That said, "Senegal is a really important partner in the Western context", Paul Melly, a consulting fellow with Chatham House, told AFP.

This holds true particularly for "France and Spain, for whom relations with Senegal are a higher priority", he said.

President Faye was in Spain last week for an official visit, his first to the country as head of state.

"There are some sensitivities around, particularly for the French as the one-time colonial power, on commenting" on internal affairs in Senegal, he added.

Cecile Neven, the Walloon minister, prompted an angry rebuke from Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who campaigned on the issue and presented the legislation to parliament.

"We do not need their funding. They can go back to their own country and let us get on with our work," Sonko responded according to local media, adding that "sovereignty comes at a price".

'Increasing homophobia'

The tepid response to Senegal's law could additionally be because it simply doubles "the theoretical prison term for something that was already punishable", Melly said.

When Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act became law in May 2023, it was seen as one of the harshest in the world, with penalties of up to life imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations, while "aggravated homosexuality" is punishable by death.

The World Bank subsequently suspended funding to the country, though it resumed in mid-2025.

Although rights group Amnesty International has been vocal on anti-LGBTQ legislation across Africa, it declined to comment when asked by AFP about Senegal's new law.

At least 32 out of Africa's 54 countries have laws prohibiting and punishing same-sex relations.

Passage of Senegal's law comes in an environment of "increasing homophobia and attacks on the continent and around the world", Shikongo of Pan Africa ILGA said.

Approximately 10 countries or territories in Africa impose sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison, including Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.

The death penalty is imposed in Uganda, Mauritania and Somalia.

bfm/giv/jfx

US

What's real anymore? AI warps truth of Middle East war

BY ANUJ CHOPRA WITH AFP FACT CHECK

"Is Netanyahu no more?"

"Is Netanyahu real or AI?"
"Is Netanyahu no more?"

"Is Netanyahu real or AI?" an internet headline blared, pointing to a video that supposedly showed the Israeli prime minister with six fingers.

But the clip was real.

Speculation spiraled online that Netanyahu might be dead or wounded in an Iranian strike and that Israel was covering it up with a double generated by artificial intelligence.

"Last time I checked, humans usually don't have 6 fingers... AI does," said one post on X, garnering nearly five million views. "Is Netanyahu no more?"

Digital forensics researchers were quick to explain the "extra" finger: a trick of light that made part of his palm resemble an additional digit.

But that message was largely drowned out in the online uproar. It also mattered little that advanced AI visual generators -- now capable of churning out uncannily real-looking deepfakes within seconds -- have largely erased the once-telltale glitch of extra fingers.

So how do you prove what's real is real when the line between reality and fabrication has blurred so much in the fog of the Middle East war?

A few days later, Netanyahu posted another video -- a proof-of-life clip from a coffee shop.

He held both hands up as if to challenge skeptics to count his fingers.

But instead of quelling the speculation, the video fueled a new wave of unfounded theories.

"More AI," said one viral Threads post, questioning why his cup remained full after a large sip.

Suspicion reigned even after Netanyahu posted a third video, this one with the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.

Some online sleuths zoomed in on Netanyahu's ears, claiming their shape and size did not match older images.

'Same footing as hearsay'

AFP's global network has produced more than 500 debunks of false information in multiple languages since the conflict began -- a rate never before seen in such a crisis. Between a quarter and a fifth of them used AI.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza war and the conflict between India and Pakistan all triggered waves of AI-generated content.

What sets the Middle East war apart is the sheer volume -- and realism -- of AI images produced by advanced tools that are cheap and capable of eliminating many of the old signs of manipulation, researchers say.

Tech platforms are now saturated with what is widely dubbed "AI slop".

The result is a deepening crisis of trust as hyper-realistic AI fabrications compete for attention with -- and often drown out -- authentic images and videos.

"I think at this time we all need to start treating photos, video and audio on the same footing as hearsay," Thomas Nowotny, who leads an AI research group at the University of Sussex in the UK, told AFP.

The issue for Constance de Saint Laurent, a professor at Ireland's Maynooth University, "is not so much that people believe" disinformation, it is "that they see real news and they don't trust it anymore."

'Harmful content'

The volume of fakes has largely outpaced the verification capacity of professional fact-checkers.

The work often feels like a game of whack-a-mole. Debunked claims routinely resurface across platforms awash with fakes, a pattern some researchers call "zombie" misinformation.

Algorithms amplify content based on engagement -- and engagement is often driven by sensationalism, outrage and misinformation.

Social media platforms "act as editors through what they decide to show to their users, primarily through their feed. And very often, that includes harmful content and misinformation," said Saint Laurent.

Financial incentives further accelerate the problem. Some platforms, including X, allow creators to earn revenue based on engagement, encouraging influencers to push misleading or entirely fabricated content for clicks.

According to the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a network of X accounts posting AI content about the Middle East war has amassed more than one billion views since the conflict began.

In another viral example, an X account posted an AI video appearing to show Dubai's Burj Khalifa skyscraper collapsing in a cloud of dust.

"10 million views and no Community Note. We cooked ya'll," information warfare analyst Tal Hagin wrote on X 20 hours after it was posted.

By the time a Community Note -- a crowd-sourced verification system, whose effectiveness has been repeatedly questioned by researchers -- was appended to the post a few hours later, the video had more than 12 million views.

Synthetic content has continued to proliferate on X even after the Elon Musk-owned platform announced that it would penalize creators -- suspending them from its revenue-sharing program for 90 days -- if they post AI war videos without a label.

'Legofication'

Meme-driven AI content that trivializes conflict as it spreads misinformation is increasingly crowding out reality on digital platforms, in what ISD researchers call the "Legofication" of war propaganda.

A spoof Iranian AI "Lego Movie" went viral in the first week of the war, accusing US President Donald Trump of attacking Tehran to distract from his role in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Lifelike meme videos have also been used to depict fictional Iranian military victories and even the strategic Strait of Hormuz reimagined as a cartoonish toll booth.

Trump has himself warned that AI has become a "disinformation weapon that Iran uses quite well."

"Buildings and Ships that are shown to be on fire are not — It's FAKE NEWS, generated by AI," he wrote on Truth Social.

Yet the US president has hugely embraced the technology, sharing AI-generated images and videos to portray himself as a king and Superman, while casting opponents as criminals or laughingstocks.

He has also used AI memes to fuel conspiracy theories and false narratives.

Meanwhile, coordinated information operations linked to Russia are exploiting the online chaos, impersonating trusted media outlets such as the BBC to spread falsehoods, according to the ISD.

Inciting violence

"We believe tech platforms are not currently doing enough to help users identify whether content is AI-generated or authentic," Meta's Oversight Board, the body created by Facebook to review content moderation decisions, said last month.

"Fake content can be harmful by inciting more violence and fueling further conflict," it added.

AFP works in 26 languages with Facebook's fact-checking program, including in Asia, Latin America and the European Union.

Meta ended its third-party fact-checking program in the US last year, with chief executive Mark Zuckerberg saying it had led to "too much censorship" -- a claim strongly rejected by proponents of the program.

Instead, Zuckerberg said Meta's platforms, Facebook and Instagram, would use the "Community Notes" model -- a move critics argue could further weaken safeguards against misinformation.

Meta's Oversight Board warned that expanding the model outside the United States could pose "significant human rights risks and contribute to tangible harms" to people living under repression or conflict.

'Liar's dividend'

AI detection tools were meant to cut through the fog of the information war. Instead, they are sometimes making it denser.

In the Netanyahu case, conspiracy theorists pointed to an AI detection tool that falsely labeled his coffee shop video as "96.9 percent AI-generated." Other tools reached the opposite conclusion.

The problem extends beyond videos. Social media is rife with fabricated satellite imagery, heatmaps and other pseudo forensic visuals used to cast doubt on genuine evidence from the war, researchers say.

"The rise of AI deepfakes and the dismissal of real footage are two sides of the same coin," said Sofia Rubinson, of misinformation watchdog NewsGuard.

"When everything could be fake, it becomes easy to believe that anything is."

Social media users have falsely accused leading media organizations such as the New York Times of publishing AI-generated conflict images, including one that showed a large crowd in Tehran celebrating the new Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

Those who benefit from misinformation can easily exploit this -- a phenomenon researchers call the "liar's dividend," where genuine but unflattering information is waved away as AI-generated.

"Don't let AI technology undermine your willingness to trust anything you see and hear," said Hannah Covington, senior director of education content at the nonprofit News Literacy Project.

"That's what bad actors want: for people to think that everything can be faked, so they can't trust anything," Covington told AFP.

Signs of that shift are already visible, as fake images of real incidents further pollute the information landscape.

After a deadly strike on an elementary school in the city of Minab on February 28, an official Iranian account on X posted a photograph showing a child's backpack smeared with blood and dust.

AFP found the image was very likely AI-generated. But few online seemed troubled that a fabricated image had been used to depict the deaths of real schoolchildren.

"Likely AI edited, but the meaning is real," one Reddit user wrote.

burs-ac/fg/jhb/jfx

US

Trump tells US that Iran war victory near, but vows big strikes

BY SHAUN TANDON AND FRANKIE TAGGART

"But to be fair, neither does he so," Murphy wrote on X. - Bomb to 'Stone Ages' - Trump again threatened that if Iran does not reach a negotiated settlement with him, the United States would "hit each and every one of their electric generating plants."

President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that the United States was nearing victory in Iran as he laid out his case more than a month into a war that has sent his approval rating tumbling.
"But to be fair, neither does he so," Murphy wrote on X. - Bomb to 'Stone Ages' - Trump again threatened that if Iran does not reach a negotiated settlement with him, the United States would "hit each and every one of their electric generating plants."

President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that the United States was nearing victory in Iran as he laid out his case more than a month into a war that has sent his approval rating tumbling.

In an evening speech from the White House, Trump broke little new ground on how the war would end and vowed two to three weeks further of "extremely hard" strikes against Iran.

"We are going to finish the job, and we're going to finish it very fast. We're getting very close," he said in remarks that largely rehashed his daily streams of social-media postings and rapid media interviews.

With his approval rating hitting new lows and Americans feeling a pinch from soaring oil prices, Trump offered a retroactive explanation on why he joined Israel in the attack launched on February 28.

Standing before American flags, Trump delivered the type of speech most presidents would offer at the start of a conflict. Trump on February 28 instead released a video in which he was wearing a baseball cap and no tie.

In his Wednesday address, Trump said the United States was aiming to crush Iran's military, end the clerical state's support for regional armed groups and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear bomb -- a prospect that the UN nuclear watchdog and many observers say was not imminent.

"I'm pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," Trump said in a 19-minute speech.

Israel on the first day of the conflict killed Iran's longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Trump boasted how "their leaders -- most of them" in the Islamic republic are dead.

But Iran has also responded by taking control over the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway out of the Gulf for one-fifth of the world's oil, which was open before the war.

Gasoline prices in the United States have surged above $4 a gallon (over $1 a liter) for the first time in years, while consumer confidence has weakened, dragging down Trump's already fragile standing on the economy.

Oil prices again surged in early trading Thursday and share prices tumbled, with Trump's speech dashing hopes he would call a quick end to the war.

Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy said: "Anyone watching that speech has no idea whether Trump is escalating or deescalating the war with Iran."

"But to be fair, neither does he so," Murphy wrote on X.

Bomb to 'Stone Ages'

Trump again threatened that if Iran does not reach a negotiated settlement with him, the United States would "hit each and every one of their electric generating plants."

Attacks on civilian energy infrastructure are widely considered to be illegal under the laws of war and could constitute a war crime.

"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," Trump said.

There was little in his address about actual diplomacy.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump claimed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian -- an elected moderate long considered in the shadow of the military and clerical establishment -- was seeking a ceasefire.

This was swiftly denied by Iran's foreign ministry, which also accused Washington of making "maximalist and irrational" demands.

Boasting of American military might, the 79-year-old former real estate developer used one of his favorite analogies: "We have all the cards. They have none."

Trump offered conciliatory words to Gulf Arab allies, saying he would not let them "get hurt or fail" -- even though they have already been hit by more than a month of Iranian retaliatory fire that has shattered their reputation for stability.

Trump again berated European allies that have balked at supporting his war -- on which he did not consult them in advance -- as he noted that they are more dependent on Gulf oil.

The countries that "receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage," Trump said, urging them to "build up some delayed courage."

sct/mlm

US

Trump says Iran war almost over, warns of weeks more heavy strikes

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

The war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he said, cautioning however that "we are going to hit them, extremely hard, over the next two to three weeks."

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US-Israeli war campaign against Iran was almost complete but that the country would be hit hard over the next two to three weeks as Washington pressed toward its military objectives.
The war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he said, cautioning however that "we are going to hit them, extremely hard, over the next two to three weeks."

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday the US-Israeli war campaign against Iran was almost complete but that the country would be hit hard over the next two to three weeks as Washington pressed toward its military objectives.

Speaking in his first national address since the war began on February 28, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the offensive was worth the effort.

"Thanks to the progress we've made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly, very shortly," Trump said from the White House.

The war's "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he said, cautioning however that "we are going to hit them, extremely hard, over the next two to three weeks."

He also assured regional allies -- Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain -- battered by Iranian drone and missile attacks, that the United States "will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form."

Trump indicated that talks may be possible with Iran's new leadership, which he described as "less radical and much more reasonable" than its predecessor, signalling he is pursuing some form of deal to end the conflict.

But he warned that if none was reached, Washington had "our eyes on key targets including the country's electric generating plants."

The speech did little to calm energy markets, with oil prices surging Thursday as Trump called on other nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

One-fifth of global oil normally passes through the narrow waterway, and its effective closure has sent energy prices soaring and destabilized the world economy.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed Wednesday to keep it shut to the country's "enemies."

'Irrational'

Iran on Thursday dismissed Washington's ceasefire overtures, describing US demands to end the conflict as "maximalist and irrational."

"Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the ISNA news agency.

Trump had claimed earlier Wednesday that Iran's president had sought a ceasefire, but said the Islamic republic must first reopen Hormuz -- which he said in his address would happen "naturally" once the conflict ended.

The speech came as Trump faces plunging approval ratings, economic jitters and spiralling diplomatic fallout from a war that began when the United States and Israel launched a massive surprise airstrike campaign on Iran, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Hours before Trump's address, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian asked the American people whether the conflict was truly putting "America First," accusing Washington of war crimes and of being influenced by Israel.

In an open letter posted on social media, he also said ordinary Americans were not Iran's enemy, "even in the face of repeated foreign interventions and pressures."

Passover

Tehran announced Wednesday evening another barrage of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases in the Gulf, striking Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Eilat as well as US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.

Israel's military said early Thursday its air defences were operating to intercept the incoming fire.

As Israel prepared for the Passover holiday, which began at sunset Wednesday, air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly in the Tel Aviv area.

Emergency services said an Iranian missile attack Wednesday morning wounded 14 people, including an 11-year-old girl.

The Revolutionary Guards also confirmed hitting an oil tanker in the Gulf they said belonged to Israel; a British maritime security agency said the vessel was struck off Qatar, reporting damage but no casualties.

'Cruel and ruthless'

An AFP journalist reported huge explosions in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon and earlier strikes near the former US embassy.

Iranian media said an airport in Isfahan province and steel complexes elsewhere in the country had been damaged.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei -- not seen publicly since his father was killed in an airstrike on the war's first day -- said "the cruel and ruthless American and Zionist enemy knows no human, moral or vital limits."

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran for the funeral of the Guards' naval commander, killed in an Israeli airstrike. "We will resist until the end," said Moussa Nowruzi, a 57-year-old mourner.

In Lebanon, seven people were killed in strikes around south Beirut, with the Israeli military saying it had struck a senior Hezbollah commander.

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli attacks had killed more than 1,300 people in the country since war erupted between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2.

Across the Gulf, strikes caused a large fire at Kuwait's international airport, Bahrain reported a blaze at a business facility, and Saudi Arabia said several drones were intercepted. A Bangladeshi national was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted drone in the United Arab Emirates.

burs-arp/mlm

Congress

US Republicans announce deal to end partial government shutdown

The government shutdown -- the longest of any kind in US history -- has strained airport operations, with Transportation Security Administration workers missing paychecks and staffing shortages leading to long lines at metal detectors.

Republican leaders in the US Congress said Wednesday they had reached a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a weeks-long partial government shutdown that has brought chaos to airports.
The government shutdown -- the longest of any kind in US history -- has strained airport operations, with Transportation Security Administration workers missing paychecks and staffing shortages leading to long lines at metal detectors.

Republican leaders in the US Congress said Wednesday they had reached a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a weeks-long partial government shutdown that has brought chaos to airports.

The agreement, brokered by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, would restore funding for most of the agency while deferring the most contentious immigration enforcement spending to a separate measure.

The plan marks a sharp reversal for House Republicans, who rejected a similar Senate-backed proposal just days ago but moved to revive it after coming under pressure from President Donald Trump.

The agreement also ignores Democratic demands for limits on harsh immigration enforcement tactics that have angered many in America.

Under the deal, Homeland Security (DHS) would be funded through the end of the fiscal year, with agencies involved in Trump's immigration crackdown -- including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection -- relying on funds approved separately last year.

Republican leaders said they would pursue longer-term funding for border security and immigration enforcement through what is known as budget reconciliation, a party-line process allowing them to bypass Democratic opposition.

"In following this two-track approach, the Republican Congress will fully reopen the department, make sure all federal workers are paid and, specifically, fund immigration enforcement and border security for the next three years so that those law-enforcement activities can continue uninhibited," Johnson and Thune said in a joint statement.

The compromise could pave the way for a rapid vote as early as Thursday, when both chambers are scheduled to hold brief, largely procedural sessions that could allow the legislation to pass if no lawmaker objects.

The government shutdown -- the longest of any kind in US history -- has strained airport operations, with Transportation Security Administration workers missing paychecks and staffing shortages leading to long lines at metal detectors.

Democrats' objections were fueled in part by two fatal shootings of US citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year, when federal immigration agents killed Alex Pretti and Renee Good during enforcement operations. The incidents sparked nationwide protests and raised concerns about the use of force.

Democrats had refused to back funding for immigration enforcement agencies without new limits on their operations, including requirements for judicial warrants and restrictions on agents wearing masks.

Those demands were not included in the final agreement.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer claimed victory, however, saying Republican infighting had forced the compromise.

"For days, Republican divisions derailed a bipartisan agreement," he said, adding that Democrats had "refused to let Republican chaos win."

ft/dw

Moon

Astronauts strapped in for historic US lunar launch

BY CHARLOTTE CAUSIT WITH MAGGY DONALDSON IN NEW YORK

The mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making and faced repeated setbacks and massive cost overruns, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as 6:24 pm (2224 GMT).

Four astronauts strapped into their seats and were sealed inside their space capsule Wednesday, ready to blast off aboard a massive rocket on a historic odyssey around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
The mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making and faced repeated setbacks and massive cost overruns, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as 6:24 pm (2224 GMT).

Four astronauts strapped into their seats and were sealed inside their space capsule Wednesday, ready to blast off aboard a massive rocket on a historic odyssey around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The mission dubbed Artemis 2 has been years in the making and faced repeated setbacks and massive cost overruns, but is finally scheduled to take off from Florida as early as 6:24 pm (2224 GMT).

The weather was expected to be favorable, with a 90 percent chance of conditions suitable for launch.

Anxiety briefly spiked when less than two hours before the launch window was to open, NASA said engineers identified a technical issue related to the rocket's flight termination system, a key safety mechanism.

But cheers rang out among spectators gathered around a live broadcast when a US space agency official said the problem was resolved.

The team, clad in bright orange suits with blue trim, includes Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen.

Their approximately 10-day mission will see them hurtle around Earth's natural satellite without landing, much like Apollo 8 did in 1968.

The journey marks a series of historic accomplishments: it will send the first person of color, the first woman and the first non-American on a lunar mission.

If the mission proceeds as planned, the astronauts will set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before.

It is also the inaugural crewed flight of NASA's new lunar rocket, dubbed the Space Launch System (SLS).

The mammoth orange-and-white rocket is designed to allow the United States to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent base that will offer a platform for further exploration.

Even with all the potential records on the line, Mark Kelly, a US senator from Arizona and a retired astronaut, emphasized to AFP that the mission was about something much bigger.

"They're not doing it for themselves," he said of the astronauts. "They're doing it for the country."

"When you make a decision to climb into a rocket ship and lift off with over eight million pounds of thrust on your back, you don't take the decision very lightly," Kelly added.

"But for our nation, there's a tremendous upside."

Repeated setbacks

Under bright Florida sunshine, four giant tanks on the rocket were filled with liquid hydrogen and oxygen.

A full load of fuel boosts the rocket's weight by 1,000 tons, for a total of more than 2,600 tons.

The mission was originally due to launch as early as February.

But repeated setbacks stalled the mission and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.

If Wednesday's launch is canceled or delayed, there are more liftoff opportunities through Monday, though forecasts show slightly less favorable weather later in the week.

Local police authorities said they expected around 400,000 people to gather near the so-called Space Coast to watch history in the making.

"We're looking forward to it, we've never seen anything like this," 76-year-old retiree Melinda Schuerfranz of Ohio told AFP.

'BEYOND THE STARS'

Artemis is facing pressure from President Donald Trump, who has pushed the pace of a program that aims to see boots hit the lunar surface before his second term ends in early 2029.

Artemis 2's objectives include verifying that both the rocket and the spacecraft are in working order to pave the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

That deadline has raised eyebrows among experts, in part because Washington is relying on the private sector's technological headway.

The current era of American lunar investment has frequently been portrayed as an effort to compete with China, which is aiming to land humans on the Moon by 2030.

Trump will be tied up Wednesday evening addressing the nation in his first such speech since US and Israeli forces began strikes on Iran on February 28, igniting a regional war and a global energy crisis.

But he took a moment to drop a line on social media ahead of the planned launch.

"We are WINNING, in Space, on Earth, and everywhere in between -- Economically, Militarily, and now, BEYOND THE STARS. Nobody comes close! America doesn't just compete, we DOMINATE, and the whole World is watching," Trump posted on Truth Social.

cha-mdo/mlm

diplomacy

US lifts sanctions on Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodriguez

The reopening came after the US military operation that seized Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from Caracas on January 3, taking them to New York to face drug trafficking charges that they deny.

The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions against Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after Washington ousted her predecessor Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in January.
The reopening came after the US military operation that seized Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from Caracas on January 3, taking them to New York to face drug trafficking charges that they deny.

The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions against Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after Washington ousted her predecessor Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in January.

Rodriguez's name was deleted from the "Specially Designated Nationals List," according to a post on the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control website.

Rodriguez welcomed the decision, writing on X that it was part of the "normalization and strengthening" of bilateral relations.

"We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of the sanctions currently in force against our country, and make it possible to build and guarantee an effective binational cooperation agenda for the benefit of our peoples," she added.

Ties between Washington and Caracas have warmed since Maduro's ouster, with Rodriguez complying with US President Donald Trump's demands for Caracas to open up its energy industry to American companies.

Rodriguez served as Maduro's deputy and was sanctioned by Washington for being a key official in his government, alongside officials including former defense minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Rodriguez fired Lopez in mid-March, but she has been walking a fine line between demands from Washington and those from her own backers since Maduro's toppling.

Cabello, who remains in office, is seen as one of her key backers.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Caracas resumed operations after being closed for seven years, the State Department said.

The reopening came after the US military operation that seized Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from Caracas on January 3, taking them to New York to face drug trafficking charges that they deny.

The operation killed around 100 people in Venezuela, according to authorities there.

aha/mjf/pnb/js

US

UK-led Hormuz talks demand 'immediate' reopening of Hormuz

US

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'Maximum effort'

US Baghdad centre hit

'Immediate' reopening

Yemen missile

Force in Hormuz

Blasts over Jerusalem

China condemns

Bridge struck

Expelled

'Wider war'

Food disaster

US

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'Unrealistic'

art

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'People are devastated'

politics

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space

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'Brave astronauts'

Compete with China

Global Edition

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Key figures at around 1550 GMT

US

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'Much more reasonable'

From Iraq to Bhutan

Israel

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Greece

China

Japan

India

Oil and gas

Iran-linked vessels

Greek, Chinese crossings

US ships targeted

diplomacy

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SKorea

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tsunami

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Aftershocks

US

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China fuel surcharges

Oil spikes

Trump tells other countries to 'take care' of Hormuz

Malaysia work-from-home push

UK meeting on Hormuz shipping

World Bank 'extremely concerned'

Germany outlook dims

Bank of England warning

India fuel hike

Kuwait airport hit

Save fuel, Australians

US

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Hezbollah claims attacks

Israel under Iran missile fire

Oil prices jump

Australia doesn't see 'end point'

Trump vows big strikes

UAE responds to 'threats

Iran calls US demands 'irrational'

World Bank raises alarm

Israel medics say 14 wounded

'America First'?

Iran Guards say Hormuz closed to 'enemies'

diplomacy

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'Vacuum'

BY PETER HUTCHISON AND HELEN ROWE

BY RICHARD CARTER

BY CHARLOTTE CAUSIT WITH CHRIS LEFKOW IN WASHINGTON

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

BY FRANCESCO FONTEMAGGI AND SIMON STURDEE WITH ANNA SMOLCHENKO IN PARIS

BY TONNY RARUNG WITH MARCHIO GORBIANO IN JAKARTA

BY BECCA MILFELD

BY ANUJ CHOPRA WITH AFP FACT CHECK

BY SHAUN TANDON AND FRANKIE TAGGART

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

BY CHARLOTTE CAUSIT WITH MAGGY DONALDSON IN NEW YORK