US

Iran hits Israel with missiles after denying Trump talks

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

According to several Israeli media outlets, police believe the damage was caused by a cluster munition missile equipped with three to four warheads, each carrying around 100 kilograms of explosives.

Iran fired a fresh broadside of missiles at Israel Tuesday, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv, as uncertainty swirled over possible talks to end the three-week Middle East war.
According to several Israeli media outlets, police believe the damage was caused by a cluster munition missile equipped with three to four warheads, each carrying around 100 kilograms of explosives.

Iran fired a fresh broadside of missiles at Israel Tuesday, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv, as uncertainty swirled over possible talks to end the three-week Middle East war.

AFP images showed rubble-strewn streets and the side of a building in Israel's commercial hub in ruins, as first responders scrambled to assist at least four people lightly injured at four different locations.

Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai told reporters a "direct strike" had targeted a building in the upscale neighbourhood, as AFP video showed the facade of the three-storey block torn open.

According to several Israeli media outlets, police believe the damage was caused by a cluster munition missile equipped with three to four warheads, each carrying around 100 kilograms of explosives.

Iranian media reported US-Israeli warplanes had struck two gas facilities and a pipeline, hours after President Donald Trump stepped back from his threat to attack energy sites citing "very good" talks to end the war.

Trump said his administration was speaking with an unidentified "top person", warning if talks failed in the next five days "we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out".

But Tehran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, reportedly involved in talks, said "no negotiations" were underway, insisting Trump was seeking "to manipulate the financial and oil markets."

Stock markets soared and oil prices saw brief respite after Trump's abrupt about-turn that came ahead of a deadline he had set to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US "obliterate" Iran's power plants.

US media outlet Axios reported US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may meet an Iranian delegation for talks in Pakistan as soon as this week, with Vice President JD Vance possibly joining.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not deny the reports, saying "speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Monday he spoke with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, promising Islamabad's help to bring peace to the region.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said messages were received from "some friendly countries indicating a US request for negotiations aimed at ending the war", but denied any such talks had taken place, Iran's official IRNA agency reported.

'Tremendous achievements'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken to Trump and acknowledged Washington thought a deal was possible, but vowed to continue striking Iran and Lebanon to protect Israel.

"Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military... in an agreement," he said.

Israel kept up its bombardment on Beirut's southern suburbs throughout the night, while a strike on Bshamoun, south of the capital, killed two people on Tuesday, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

AFP images showed smoke billowing from gutted buildings in Beirut, as rescuers picked through the rubble and twisted metal.

Strikes also targeted several service stations linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah that Israel has vowed to dismantle.

Israel's attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than a million, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

The war has killed at least 3,230 Iranians, including 1,406 civilians, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. AFP cannot access strike sites nor independently verify tolls in Iran.

'Sudden pivots'

On Monday, Iran's neighbours breathed a sigh of relief after Trump stepped back from his threat to target the country's power infrastructure.

Tehran had vowed to deploy naval mines and strike power and water infrastructure across the region in retaliation, threatening to escalate an energy crisis of already historic proportions.

"Trump has been a master of sudden pivots and switches. So it's sometimes hard to know if there is a strategy or if it's just always improvisation," said Garret Martin, a professor of international relations at American University in Washington.

Thousands of US Marines are headed to the Middle East, reinforcing America's presence following weekend speculation Trump was mulling ground operations either to seize Iranian oil assets or to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the war erupted, Tehran has retaliated against US-Israeli attacks by throttling traffic through the Strait, a conduit for one-fifth of global crude, and by hitting Gulf energy sites and US embassies as well as targets in Israel.

International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned if the war is protracted, daily oil losses would pave the way for a crisis worse than the combined impact of both 1970s oil shocks and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Oil prices have been driven above $100 a barrel by the conflict, but they tumbled sharply after Trump's announcements.

bur-ric/ser

Global Edition

Stocks rise on Trump U-turn but unease sees oil bounce

However, the mood was deflated somewhat after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington.

Stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites and hailed "very good" talks with Tehran but oil prices rebounded as optimism over a possible de-escalation of the Middle East war remained shaky.
However, the mood was deflated somewhat after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington.

Stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites and hailed "very good" talks with Tehran but oil prices rebounded as optimism over a possible de-escalation of the Middle East war remained shaky.

Equity markets in New York jumped and crude plunged Monday after the US president made the surprise announcement that he would hold off fresh attacks on energy infrastructure for five days following negotiations with an unidentified "top person".

The news ramped up hopes for an end to the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and gas normally flows.

Brent slumped as much as 14 percent at one point to $96, while all three main indexes on Wall Street climbed more than one percent, with commentators suggesting prices could drop to as low as $90.

However, the mood was deflated somewhat after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington.

And the Fars news agency reported that Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ali Nikzad said there would be no talks, while the Strait of Hormuz would remain effectively closed.

"The signal here is clear," said Pepperstone's Michael Brown. "Trump has pulled back on the ultimatum issued over the weekend, is seemingly seeking de-escalation for the first time since conflict begun, and looks to be trying to find an off-ramp to allow that to happen.

"To me, this is by far the most important part of all this."

Asian markets enjoyed a positive day, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai and Manila all up. Taipei and Wellington both fell.

London, Paris and Frankfurt edged up at the open.

Crude bounced, with Brent and WTI both climbing more than four percent at one point before, with investors still sceptical about the chances of a breakthrough in talks.

There was little reaction to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi saying the country would release another part of its strategic oil reserves from Thursday.

Dollar rebounds

On currency markets the dollar climbed against the euro, pound and yen after sinking on Monday.

Markets had started the week deep in the red after Trump warned Saturday that Iran had 48 hours to allow traffic through Hormuz or he would strike the country's energy infrastructure. Tehran replied by saying the waterway "will be completely closed" should he act on his threat.

His decision to U-turn hours before the deadline came up was pounced on by observers as another example of a TACO moment -- an acronym of "Trump Always Chickens Out" -- in which he escalates before pulling back from the brink.

But Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management warned the president may have overplayed his hand.

"You can talk down a market. You can jawbone crude lower. You can release emergency reserves and tweak sanctions to flood the tape with supply optics," he wrote.

"But you cannot instantly repair disrupted shipping lanes, fractured refining capacity, or the insurance black hole forming around tanker traffic. The market may trade the headline in the short term, but it settles on the barrel in the medium term. And right now the barrel is still constrained."

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were considering joining the fight following persistent and damaging attacks from Iran since the US-Israel strikes began on February 28.

The article said they were not deploying troops but pressure was building on them to do so as Tehran looks to exert greater sway over the region.

Iran's choking of the Strait of Hormuz continued to impact airlines, with Vietnam's national air carrier saying it will suspend nearly two dozen domestic flights a week starting next month because of limited fuel supplies.

That came days after Myanmar's national carrier said it would also cancel some domestic flights "due to unavoidable circumstances", without providing details.

And Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific extended its flight suspensions to and from Dubai and Riyadh by a month until May 31.

Elsewhere, the European Union and Australia struck a long-awaited free trade deal on Tuesday as they completed years of negotiations to boost exports in the face of global uncertainty over trade.

They also signed an agreement to step up defence cooperation as well as critical raw materials.

Key figures at around 0815 GMT

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.9 percent at $101.90 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.9 percent at $90.00 per barrel

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.4 percent at 52,252.28 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 2.8 percent at 25,063.71 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 3,881.28 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 9,917.66

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1600 from $1.1616 on Monday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3420 from $1.3437

Dollar/yen: UP at 158.50 yen from 158.34 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.43 pence from 86.45 pence

New York - Dow: UP 1.4 percent at 46,208.47 points (close)

dan/ane

US

War in the Middle East: latest developments

In an interview with state TV, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said that Iran is less vulnerable to attacks on energy infrastructure because it was spread out, with 150 power plants across the country.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Iran energy sites hit - Iranian media reported on Tuesday that Israeli-US strikes targeted two gas facilities and a pipeline, hours after US President Donald Trump stepped back from his threat to attack power infrastructure.
In an interview with state TV, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said that Iran is less vulnerable to attacks on energy infrastructure because it was spread out, with 150 power plants across the country.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

Iran energy sites hit

Iranian media reported on Tuesday that Israeli-US strikes targeted two gas facilities and a pipeline, hours after US President Donald Trump stepped back from his threat to attack power infrastructure.

In an interview with state TV, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi said that Iran is less vulnerable to attacks on energy infrastructure because it was spread out, with 150 power plants across the country.

- Six killed in Iraqi Kurdistan -

A rocket attack in Iraq's north killed six Iraqi Kurdish security personnel, with two missing and 22 wounded, a security official told AFP.

There was no indication of who was responsible for the strike.

- Wounded in Tel Aviv -

Six people were wounded in Tel Aviv, where police reported several impact sites after the military warned of incoming missiles from Iran.

Earlier Iranian state media announced a fresh salvo of missiles was headed towards Israel on Tuesday morning, after an earlier barrage hit a building in the north.

Two killed near Beirut

An Israeli strike on Bshamoun, a town south of Beirut which lies outside of the traditional strongholds of Iran-backed Hezbollah, killed at least two people, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Iraq deaths

A strike in western Iraq on Tuesday killed 15 fighters, including Saad Dawai al-Baiji, provincial commander and head of operations in Anbar for the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

The PMF is now part of Iraq's regular army, but also includes some pro-Iranian groups.

Syrian base targeted

Syria's army said Monday that one of its bases in the northeast was targeted by a missile strike from neighbouring Iraq, while an Iraqi official said a local armed group was behind the attack.

The Iraqi official, requesting anonymity, told AFP that "an Iraqi faction fired seven Arash-4 rockets, an improved version of the Grad rocket, towards a base in the Hassakeh region".

Trump-Netanyahu call

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had spoken with Donald Trump and that the US president believed the countries' military gains in Iran could be converted into a negotiated agreement that protected Israel's interests.

"President Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the (Israeli military) and the US military in order to realise the war's objectives in an agreement -- an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

Earlier, Trump announced he had shelved plans to attack Iran's power plants in a stunning about-turn, sparked by what he said were "very good" talks with unidentified Iranian officials to bring an end to the war.

Beirut suburbs hit

Israel attacked the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs hours after the Israeli army issued a warning for residents of the area to evacuate, saying it was "striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut".

AFPTV's live broadcast showed a cloud of smoke over the southern suburbs, which are considered a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group.

Pakistani, Iranian leaders speak

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on "the grave situation in the Gulf region", and promised that Pakistan was committed to playing "a constructive role in advancing peace".

'David's Sling' malfunction

A malfunction in Israel's "David's Sling" aerial interceptor system had allowed two Iranian ballistic missiles to strike the south of the country, wounding dozens of people over the weekend, the military confirmed.

The system is a key component of Israel's multi-layered air defence shield.

Israel hits Guards' site

The Israeli military said it struck a site in Tehran belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and used for directing battalions of the Basij paramilitary force.

The hit came days after Israel announced it had "eliminated" the intelligence chief of the Basij in a strike that also killed the force's top commander, Gholamreza Soleimani.

Israel has been targeting the Basij force as part of efforts to undermine the Iranian authorities' grip on power.

burs/yad/gv

US

Middle East war: global economic fallout

- Ukraine eyeing diesel supply - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday ordered the government to ensure stable diesel supplies, as the war in the Middle East sends oil prices spiralling.

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war: - Asian stocks recover on Trump u-turn - Asian stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites, but oil prices edged back up as optimism over a possible de-escalation of the Middle East war remained shaky.
- Ukraine eyeing diesel supply - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday ordered the government to ensure stable diesel supplies, as the war in the Middle East sends oil prices spiralling.

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

Asian stocks recover on Trump u-turn

Asian stocks rose Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites, but oil prices edged back up as optimism over a possible de-escalation of the Middle East war remained shaky.

Trump's comments had come after Asian markets had closed Monday, leading to shares rebounding in Europe and on Wall Street. On Tuesday, Tokyo was up more than one percent, while Seoul and Hong Kong rose more than 2 percent.

Iran has denied Trump's claims of advanced peace talks, and the price of Brent - which had slumped Monday - was back above $100 a barrel on Tuesday.

Vietnam to cut domestic flights

Vietnam's national air carrier will suspend nearly two dozen domestic flights a week starting next month because of limited fuel supplies caused by the Mideast war, the nation's aviation authority said.

Major domestic routes and international flights are being maintained, though Vietnamese airlines are working on adding fuel surcharges on international routes.

Cathay extends flight suspension

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said on Tuesday it has extended its flight suspensions to and from Dubai and Riyadh by a month until May 31 because of the war in the Middle East.

Japan to release oil reserves

Japan will release another part of its strategic oil reserves and tap into joint stockpiles held by producing nations in the country, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday.

Japan -- which depends on the Middle East for 95 percent of its oil imports -- announced this month that it was starting to release its strategic oil reserves, which are among the world's largest.

Energy prices have surged since the United States and Israel's war against Iran triggered Tehran's retaliation that disrupted oil deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz.

Philippines leans on coal

The Philippines will "temporarily" be forced to lean even more heavily on coal-fired power plants given the soaring costs of liquified natural gas (LNG), energy secretary Sharon Garin said Tuesday.

"We talked to the generation companies, the coal-powered plants, to check how much they can increase their generation," Garin said, calling it a "temporary measure" that could start as early as April 1.

Ukraine eyeing diesel supply

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday ordered the government to ensure stable diesel supplies, as the war in the Middle East sends oil prices spiralling.

Russia has battered Ukraine's refining capacity since invading in 2022, making Kyiv heavily dependent on fuel imports.

Diesel prices in Ukraine have surged almost 25 percent since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, with analysts warning that supply prospects for April remained unclear.

France takes steps to mitigate prices

France's government announced some indirect measures Monday to alleviate fuel price rises resulting from the Middle East war, also asking refiners if they were able to boost their output.

The steps include easing some payroll levies, extending deadlines for tax payments and offering public loans for companies in the transport and fishing sectors.

Oil disruption 'temporary'

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil market disruptions were "temporary," speaking at a conference in Houston.

But Mike Wirth, chief executive of the US energy giant Chevron, warned that oil prices had yet to fully factor in fallout from the blockade.

"In particular, Asia is facing some real concerns about supply," Wirth said, citing government measures to conserve stocks.

TotalEnergies chief Patrick Pouyanne meanwhile said he expected "very high" liquefied natural gas prices by the summer if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

burs/gv/yad

trade

Australia, EU agree sweeping new trade pact eight years in the works

BY KIRSTY NEEDHAM

The two sides also agreed to step up defence cooperation as well as critical raw materials.

The European Union and Australia struck a long-awaited free-trade deal on Tuesday, while also agreeing to boost defence cooperation and access to rare earth minerals in the face of global uncertainty over trade.
The two sides also agreed to step up defence cooperation as well as critical raw materials.

The European Union and Australia struck a long-awaited free-trade deal on Tuesday, while also agreeing to boost defence cooperation and access to rare earth minerals in the face of global uncertainty over trade.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Australia comes as the 27-nation bloc and the import-reliant nation navigate renewed energy vulnerability sparked by the war in the Middle East.

The accord is the latest agreed by Brussels in a push to diversify trade as Europe faces challenges from the United States and China.

Key sticking points on Australian use of European geographical names as well as how much beef can be exported to the continent were overcome to reach the deal after eight years of negotiations.

Another compromise will see Australian winemakers allowed to use the term "prosecco" domestically, but they must stop using it for exports after 10 years.

Australia will also be allowed to keep using some geographical names, such as feta and gruyere, in cases where producers have used the name for at least five years.

And European car makers will benefit from Australia raising the threshold for a luxury car tax on electric vehicles -- three-quarters will now be exempt.

The two sides also agreed to step up defence cooperation as well as critical raw materials.

Addressing the Australian parliament on Tuesday, von der Leyen described a world that was "brutal, harsh and unforgiving".

In that context, she said the EU and Australia were bound by common values and must work together to mitigate over-reliance on countries like China for critical minerals.

"We cannot be over dependent on any supplier for such crucial ingredients, and that is precisely why we need each other," she said.

"Our security is your security, and with our new security and defence partnership, we have each other's back."

A 'fair deal'

She told lawmakers Tuesday's agreement on trade was a "fair deal, and one that delivers for your businesses and one that delivers for our businesses".

Under the deal, the EU said it expected exports to Australia to grow by a third over a decade.

The quota of Australian beef allowed into the bloc will increase more than 10 times the current level over the next decade, although that falls short of what Australian farmers had been seeking.

Australia's National Farmers' Federation said it was "extremely disappointed" by the outcome of the deal.

"What the Australian government has accepted today appears to offer no material change for key agricultural commodities as what the government rightly rejected in October 2023," president Hamish McIntyre said.

EU firms exported 37 billion euros (US$42.9 billion) of goods to Australia last year, and 31 billion euros of services in 2024.

And Australia said the deal could add AU$7.8 billion (US$5.4 billion) to its gross domestic product by 2030.

Australia's largest export market is China and the United States is its largest source of investment.

But Canberra has redoubled efforts to diversify export markets for farmers since a 2020 dispute with Beijing saw agriculture shipments blocked for several years, and last year's global imposition of US tariffs.

Likewise, the European Union is on a drive to strike new partnerships in the face of US levies and Chinese export controls.

Von der Leyen's visit was overshadowed by the war in the Middle East, which has sent oil prices soaring.

The EU chief this month said the conflict had served as a "stark reminder" of Europe's vulnerabilities.

And on Tuesday she called for an immediate end to hostilities in the face of a "critical" situation for energy supply chains globally.

Australia -- which is heavily reliant on fuel from abroad -- has also felt the pressure from the global energy squeeze.

oho/dan

US

Back to black: facing energy shock, Asia turns to coal

BY SARA HUSSEIN

- Higher prices - Compounding the problem, most Asian countries do not have underground gas storage, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, leaving them especially vulnerable to price spikes.

Asian countries are ramping up use of polluting coal to tackle energy shortages and price spikes linked to the Iran war, but the crisis could have an environmental silver lining.
- Higher prices - Compounding the problem, most Asian countries do not have underground gas storage, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, leaving them especially vulnerable to price spikes.

Asian countries are ramping up use of polluting coal to tackle energy shortages and price spikes linked to the Iran war, but the crisis could have an environmental silver lining.

While leaning on the fossil fuel will raise emissions in the near term, the energy crisis is demonstrating the risks of energy import dependence, and could push policymakers to embrace renewables faster, analysts told AFP.

"The ongoing Iran oil and gas crisis shows the importance of having domestic energy sources that are not exposed to the global commodity market, which coal is," said Amy Kong, research analyst at Zero Carbon Analytics.

"Countries like Vietnam who have rapidly increased their share of solar generation, have a stronger buffer against rising energy import prices," Kong said.

Much of Asia is heavily exposed to the energy crisis that has unfolded since the US-Israel attack on Iran began last month.

More than 80 percent of the crude oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) that passes through the Strait of Hormuz heads to Asia, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are all major importers of LNG from Qatar, which said last week that its export capacity had been slashed by 17 percent because of Iranian attacks.

It warned it would be forced to declare force majeure for up to five years on some long-term LNG contracts, signalling it may be unable to fulfill the agreements.

Higher prices

Compounding the problem, most Asian countries do not have underground gas storage, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, leaving them especially vulnerable to price spikes.

As a result, many nations are bumping up use of coal, which can be sourced regionally or even domestically, to prevent power outages and protect citizens from severe price shocks.

While it cannot be substituted directly in LNG plants, countries can run existing coal power plants at a higher capacity or bring idle units back online.

The shift has come in wealthy and developing economies alike.

In South Korea, a cap on how much power can be generated from coal has been lifted, while Thailand is preparing to resume operations at two coal power units decommissioned last year.

In India, already highly dependent on coal for electricity generation, the fuel is now being substituted for cooking gas.

And in the Philippines, energy secretary Sharon Garin told AFP authorities "plan to ramp up cheaper coal, (domestic) natural gas, and renewables".

The increase in demand has pushed coal prices higher and even sparked talk of a windfall tax in coal-producing Indonesia, which reversed a decision taken last year to reduce production.

The shift is bad news for the environment in the short term. Coal is a top contributor to planet-warming greenhouse gases, and also a powerful air pollutant that is harmful for human health.

'Transition fuel'

The shift will "impose substantial environmental and public health costs," said Dinita Setyawati, senior energy analyst for Asia at think tank Ember.

Asia's vulnerability is due in part to its heavy reliance on LNG, often promoted as a "transition fuel" -- a less polluting option than coal that can "bridge the gap" as countries move towards renewable energy.

Upfront costs for LNG plants can be lower than for renewables that may require grid upgrades.

But renewables are now cheaper in the long run, and the current crisis is illustrating their benefits in terms of stable supply, said Putra Adhiguna, managing director at Energy Shift Institute, an energy finance think tank.

"The story of gas as a stable transition fuel is highly in question," he said.

And while temporary increases in coal capacity are an attractive stopgap, the banking sector is reluctant to finance construction of new coal projects, concerned about stranded assets as nations are forced to phase down fossil fuels to meet their climate obligations.

That could help refocus policymakers' attention on the benefits of renewables, said Adhiguna.

"I think we already see a bit of that coming from Southeast Asian countries," he said.

"There have been all these debates about how we can't afford to spend the money (on renewables) upfront, but I think this security of supply issue is going to override that."

sah/dan

tourism

'Perfect Japan' posts spark Gen Z social media backlash

The short video posts on platforms like TikTok show how even just the words "Tokyo, Japan" with a cherry blossom emoji can make an otherwise banal street scene more appealing for some users.

Take an everyday video on any suburban transport network, add anime-style music and a rosy filter, and it's suddenly a scene from the Japanese holiday of your dreams.
The short video posts on platforms like TikTok show how even just the words "Tokyo, Japan" with a cherry blossom emoji can make an otherwise banal street scene more appealing for some users.

Take an everyday video on any suburban transport network, add anime-style music and a rosy filter, and it's suddenly a scene from the Japanese holiday of your dreams.

That's the "Japan effect": a Gen Z social media trend satirising the often-romanticised image of the Asian country, which welcomed a record number of visitors last year.

Residents of Kyoto and other tourist hotspots have expressed exasperation with selfie-taking crowds, and now an online backlash against Japan fever is growing.

The short video posts on platforms like TikTok show how even just the words "Tokyo, Japan" with a cherry blossom emoji can make an otherwise banal street scene more appealing for some users.

"The point is to make fun of Japan's 'cute' image online, with all its cliches and stereotypes," 25-year-old French YouTuber Rocky Louzembi, who analyses internet culture, told AFP.

Along with the chronically weak yen, the booming popularity of anime and game franchises such as Pokemon is drawing tourists to the nation.

But some people take their love of Japan too far, said Louzembi, who goes by the handle rockylevrai.

To describe the phenomenon, he used the slang word "glazing" -- to excessively praise something.

A "Japan glazer" is "someone who puts everything that comes from Japan on a pedestal, while disparaging things that come from their own country", Louzembi said.

'Not that clean'

Japan logged a record 42.7 million tourist arrivals in 2025, despite a steep fall in Chinese visitors in December due to a diplomatic row.

Many visitors post online about their trip -- making pilgrimages to real-life locations from cartoons or joking about spending $1,000 on flights just so they can eat a $1 convenience store rice ball.

"The 'Japan' portrayed in an anime world is often quite different from how Japanese society is", said Marika Sato, a 29-year-old who works in marketing in Tokyo.

For instance, many women have experienced groping, said Sato, a contributor to "Blossom The Project", an Instagram account focused on Japanese social issues.

Graphic designer and fellow Blossom contributor Maya Kubota, 28, said that she appreciates people liking Japan and wanting to visit.

But over-the-top comments such as "Japanese people are next level" give her an "icky vibe", Kubota told AFP.

Some of the online Gen Z pushback focuses on the exaggerated idea that Japan's streets are so spotless people don't even have to wear shoes.

"Japan is clean but not THAT clean," joked a US couple who post social media content about the country under the name The Hitobito -- showing off their dirty white socks after a real-life experiment.

Viral effect

Japan's tourist boom has forced some authorities to take action.

A cherry blossom festival boasting a highly Instagrammable view of Mount Fuji was cancelled this year after residents complained of overtourism.

"People associate Japan with carefully composed visuals," said Seio Nakajima, a professor in the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University.

That could be because of the detailed, beautiful backgrounds in anime, or because of a deeper "cultural tradition of emphasising form".

"If people focus on form rather than meaning, it becomes easier to go viral. Because you don't need to think," Nakajima told AFP.

Japan's formalities -- from the complexity of polite language to extreme attention to detail in packaging or wrapping -- may surprise visitors, he said.

But "Japan is not always clean and aesthetic. That's only part of the reality."

Despite the backlash, tourists in Tokyo's busy Tsukiji market told AFP that the country had lived up to their expectations.

"In Russia, it's very popular to hype Japan," said Tatiana Mokeeva, 25.

When asked if posts about Japan could be unrealistic, she said: "To tell the truth, no... I love all about Japan."

str/kaf/ane/ceg

addiction

US social media addiction trial jury struggles for consensus

BY ROMAIN FONSEGRIVES

A 20-year-old California woman identified as Kaley G.M. testified at the trial that YouTube and Instagram fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts as a child, telling jurors that she became obsessed with social media, starting with YouTube videos, when she was six.

Jurors resume deliberations on Tuesday in a landmark social media trial after signaling that they were having trouble agreeing when it comes to one of the two defendants, Meta and YouTube.
A 20-year-old California woman identified as Kaley G.M. testified at the trial that YouTube and Instagram fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts as a child, telling jurors that she became obsessed with social media, starting with YouTube videos, when she was six.

Jurors resume deliberations on Tuesday in a landmark social media trial after signaling that they were having trouble agreeing when it comes to one of the two defendants, Meta and YouTube.

"The jury has difficulty coming to a consensus regarding one defendant, do you have any advice on how to move forward?" the jurors told Judge Carolyn Kuhl, according to a note she read out loud.

Kuhl responded by asking the jurors to continue their deliberations.

"If you are unable to reach a verdict, the case will have to be applied before another jury selected in the same manner and from the same community from which you were chosen, and add additional cost to everyone," she told the jurors.

The afternoon ended with no verdict, meaning the panel will return on Tuesday to continue its quest for consensus.

The jury's first full week of deliberations ended Friday with the panel sending the judge a query related to calculating damages in the case, which is expected to set a precedent for thousands of similar suits in the United States.

That indicated enough jurors agreed that one or both of the tech platforms was negligently or harmfully designed and users should have been warned, according to verdict forms.

The lawsuit is one of hundreds accusing social media firms of luring young users into becoming addicted to their content and potentially suffering from depression, eating disorders, psychiatric hospitalization and even suicide.

'Negligent' designs

Internet titans have long shielded themselves with Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act, which frees them of responsibility for what social media users post.

But this case argues that the firms are responsible for defective products, with business models designed to hold people's attention and to promote content that can harm their mental health.

The verdict could turn on the question of whether familial strife and other real-world trauma, or rather YouTube and Meta apps such as Instagram, are to blame for the mental woes of the woman who filed the suit.

A 20-year-old California woman identified as Kaley G.M. testified at the trial that YouTube and Instagram fueled her depression and suicidal thoughts as a child, telling jurors that she became obsessed with social media, starting with YouTube videos, when she was six.

Under cross examination, however, Kaley also talked about feeling neglected, berated and picked on by family members.

A jury form given to jurors asks the panel to decide whether Meta or YouTube should have known their services posed a danger to children or if they were negligent in design.

If so, jurors are to decide if Meta or YouTube were "substantial factors" in causing Kaley's woes and how much they should pay in damages.

The trial was selected as a "bellwether" proceeding, the outcome of which establishes a precedent for resolving other lawsuits that blame social media for fueling an epidemic of mental and emotional trauma.

However, being unable to agree on a verdict regarding Meta or YouTube could result in a different case setting that standard.

"We're reading tea leaves and we don't know what they mean," said plaintiff's attorney Mark Lanier.

"I don't think that we're even remotely close to the issue of a mistrial."

rfo-arp-gc/jgc

airports

US deploys immigration agents to airports amid shutdown chaos

BY JOHN FALCHETTO WITH FRANKIE TAGGART IN WASHINGTON

At Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where fliers have experienced some of the longest waits, travelers voiced hopes that ICE agents would be able to bring some order to the disruption.

The US immigration agency at the center of a firestorm over heavy-handed enforcement tactics began deploying Monday to major airports, as officials scrambled to ease mounting travel disruption during a prolonged, partial government shutdown.
At Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where fliers have experienced some of the longest waits, travelers voiced hopes that ICE agents would be able to bring some order to the disruption.

The US immigration agency at the center of a firestorm over heavy-handed enforcement tactics began deploying Monday to major airports, as officials scrambled to ease mounting travel disruption during a prolonged, partial government shutdown.

The move places Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel -- already under intense scrutiny after fatal shootings linked to immigration operations -- in highly visible roles at crowded transport hubs across the country.

Officials say the agents are being sent to at least 14 airports, including in New York, Chicago and Atlanta, to assist overstretched Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff, many of whom have gone weeks without full pay.

The agents will not conduct passenger screening but are expected to handle support roles such as monitoring exits and managing logistics, allowing TSA officers to focus on security checks.

The deployment comes as airports struggle with long delays during a busy travel period for the spring break, with some passengers reporting waits of several hours.

Unscheduled absences among TSA staff have surged to their highest levels since the beginning of the shutdown, which has halted the operations of the TSA parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- raising concerns about safety and system strain.

Tom Homan, President Donald Trump's point man on border security, told CNN the move was a temporary measure to "help TSA move those lines along," while Trump framed it as part of a broader effort to maintain security during the funding standoff.

The president told reporters he had not ruled out bolstering the deployment with National Guard troops.

At Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where fliers have experienced some of the longest waits, travelers voiced hopes that ICE agents would be able to bring some order to the disruption.

Shutdown talks deadlocked

"I came yesterday for a 5:15 pm flight. I got here at 2:30 and by the time I made it through TSA and got to my gate my plane departed and I missed my flight," nurse Angeline Peart, 27, told AFP. "I had to be rebooked for today."

"We're hopeful to see if they're able to help out and see if we can get on our plane to go home today," added Suez Khan, a 28-year-old artist.

But the deployment has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, rights activists and some Republicans, who warn it risks escalating tensions in already stressed environments.

The controversy reflects broader unease over the administration's immigration crackdown, which has sparked protests and legal challenges in several states.

In Minnesota earlier this year, two US citizens -- Renee Good and Alex Pretti -- were killed in separate encounters with federal immigration officers, incidents that fueled nationwide outrage and scrutiny of enforcement tactics.

Good, a mother of three, was shot by an ICE agent during an operation, while Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was later killed by officers from Customs and Border Protection during a related deployment.

Against that backdrop, the airport deployment has taken on outsized significance, highlighting the increasingly blurred lines between immigration enforcement and domestic security roles.

"The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or in some instances kill them," House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN.

Meanwhile, negotiations in Washington remain deadlocked.

Democrats have pushed to reopen most of DHS while demanding new limits on immigration enforcement, while Republicans have resisted those conditions.

Trump has further complicated talks by insisting he will not sign any funding deal unless Congress also passes the SAVE America Act, a contentious bill to overhaul how citizens register to vote in US elections.

With no breakthrough in sight and Congress nearing a recess, officials warn the disruption could deepen -- leaving airports, and the wider system, under growing strain.

ft/msp

economy

Venezuela protesters demand end to 'hunger' level wages

"This is no salary," pensioner Pilar Navarro, 72, told AFP. "What can you do with this good-for-nothing pension?

Hundreds of Venezuelan workers and pensioners marched Monday for an increase in "hunger" wages as well as pensions frozen for four years and eroded by galloping inflation.
"This is no salary," pensioner Pilar Navarro, 72, told AFP. "What can you do with this good-for-nothing pension?

Hundreds of Venezuelan workers and pensioners marched Monday for an increase in "hunger" wages as well as pensions frozen for four years and eroded by galloping inflation.

The monthly minimum wage currently equates to around 28 US cents, while annual price hikes surpass 600 percent.

The last wage increase came in 2022 when then-president Nicolas Maduro, ousted in a US military operation on January 3, passed a decree lifting the monthly level to $28. But the value of Venezuela's currency has plummeted since then.

"This is no salary," pensioner Pilar Navarro, 72, told AFP.

"What can you do with this good-for-nothing pension? Were it not for my son helping me out I'd be unable to buy my medicine," she complained at the march in the capital, Caracas.

Government vouchers lift income to $150 a month but that still falls far short of the amount a family needs to buy basic foodstuffs -- $645, according to private estimates.

"Free salaries," read one banner at the rally, a reference to the "Free Maduro" motif the government has used to demand Maduro's release from jail in New York.

A squadron of motorcyclists, supporters of Maduro and his charismatic Socialist predecessor Hugo Chavez, obstructed the march as it approached the labor ministry.

Riot police also blocked their path.

Unions are demanding a minimum wage of at least $200, appealing for recourse from a fund set up after Maduro fell.

The fund is said to contain revenue from oil sales facilitated by the United States as part of its new relationship with interim president Delcy Rodriguez.

A government website shows fund income of $300 million and the same amount earmarked for a minimum wage increase, without providing any further details.

"If oil money has been paid into the fund, they must use it to increase salaries," said union leader Griselda Sanchez.

Nonetheless, economists say Venezuela is in no position to raise wages to the level demanded.

Pro-Maduro elements continued to urge the lifting of international sanctions on Venezuela which they roundly blame for the nation's economic ills.

Without sanctions, "we can better address the wages issue," said powerful interior minister, Diosdado Cabello.

afc/jt/cw/ksb

LaGuardia

Runway collision kills two pilots at New York airport

BY ANGELA WEISS

The plane was operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, which said the CRJ-900 aircraft flew into LaGuardia from Montreal as Flight 8646.

Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, US authorities said Monday.
The plane was operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, which said the CRJ-900 aircraft flew into LaGuardia from Montreal as Flight 8646.

Two pilots were killed and dozens of people injured after an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, US authorities said Monday.

The crash late Sunday halted flights at LaGuardia, a major transport hub, with the Bombardier jet left tilted back onto its tail, its cockpit smashed, next to the damaged emergency vehicle.

By 2:00 pm (1800 GMT) Monday, the airport said flights had restarted but told travelers to still expect delays and cancellations.

US aviation investigators, assisted by Canadian counterparts, opened a probe into what appeared to be LaGuardia's first fatal accident since 1992.

An audio recording from the air traffic tower showed that a controller had cleared the truck, which was responding to a separate incident, to cross the runway before urgently ordering it to halt.

"Stop, truck one, stop!" the controller said moments before the collision. An alarm was then heard.

Surveillance footage shared by US media captured the moment the plane smashed into the rescue vehicle as it crossed its path, sending both hurtling down the runway.

The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, officials said.

"These were two young men at the start of their career, so it's an absolute tragedy that we're sitting here with their loss," Bryan Bedford, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, told reporters.

More than 40 other people were taken to the hospital, but many were discharged by Monday afternoon, said Kathryn Garcia, head of the city's Port Authority.

She added that the two men in the damaged fire truck were expected to recover.

The plane was operated by Jazz Aviation, a regional partner of Air Canada, which said the CRJ-900 aircraft flew into LaGuardia from Montreal as Flight 8646.

A preliminary passenger list showed 76 people on board the flight, including four crew members, Jazz Aviation said in a statement.

'Everyone was screaming'

Jack Cabot, a passenger on the flight, recalled a chaotic scene as the plane "immediately hit something" after a hard landing.

"Everyone was hunkered down, everyone was screaming, we didn't have any directions because the pilots' cabin was destroyed," he told US media.

"So someone said 'let's get the emergency exit, let's get the door and all jump out' and that's exactly what we did."

US President Donald Trump described the crash as "terrible," telling reporters, "They made a mistake. It's a dangerous business."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the fatal incident was "deeply saddening."

"Canadian officials are working closely with their US counterparts on the ground as the investigation continues. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted," he wrote on X.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters that LaGuardia is a "very well staffed airport" -- addressing what he called a "rumor" there was only one controller in the tower late Sunday.

Air traffic controller shortages are a problem across the United States and the government has ramped up its hiring efforts in response.

As hundreds of flights were canceled due to the crash, AFP journalists saw travelers at LaGuardia laying down in a terminal Monday.

Located in the borough of Queens, LaGuardia is the third-busiest airport serving New York, handling 33.5 million passengers in 2024, according to port authority figures.

It completed an $8 billion redevelopment in 2024, upgrading its aging infrastructure with new terminals and roadways.

Deadly air crashes in the United States in recent years include a collision between a passenger jet and an army helicopter near Washington in January 2025 that killed 67 people.

mjw-bjt/md

Global Edition

Oil slides, stocks rebound on Trump's Iran remarks

The rebound lost some steam after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington, and London's FTSE 100 ended the day lower as energy and defence stocks slumped.

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rebounded Monday after US President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt to strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after initially setting a 48-hour deadline, claiming "very good" talks with Tehran.
The rebound lost some steam after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington, and London's FTSE 100 ended the day lower as energy and defence stocks slumped.

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rebounded Monday after US President Donald Trump suddenly ordered a halt to strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after initially setting a 48-hour deadline, claiming "very good" talks with Tehran.

Crude futures plunged more than 14 percent after Trump's comments on his Truth Social platform, but pared those losses after Iran denied any talks were taking place.

Brent closed down 10.9 percent at $99.94 per barrel, while its US equivalent West Texas Intermediate lost 10.3 percent to $88.13.

Sam Stovall of CFRA Research said the fact that Trump had specified a five-day pause on energy infrastructure strikes "means we probably could see some additional strength through this week" in the equity markets.

Asian and European stock markets had kicked off the new week with sharp losses, but Trump's update, which came after the Asian close, saw European and US equities rally.

The rebound lost some steam after Iranian media said there had been no talks between Tehran and Washington, and London's FTSE 100 ended the day lower as energy and defence stocks slumped.

Wall Street's main stock indices closed up, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones all gaining more than one percent.

"It's incredibly difficult to trade these markets when Trump is swinging between massive escalation and declaring peace/victory... but the market is happy for now that we do not enter a new phase of danger," said Saxo UK investor strategist Neil Wilson.

Stovall of CFRA Research said in an environment of such high uncertainty, investors were making decisions "based on suppositions rather than facts."

XTB research director Kathleen Brooks said that if Trump's comments pointed to be an off-ramp from the conflict, "we could see a move back towards $90 per barrel for Brent in the coming days."

But she added that oil would not quickly return to the pre-war levels of under $70 a barrel as it would take time to repair damaged energy infrastructure in the Gulf.

Ahead of Trump's update, the International Energy Agency warned of the worst global energy crisis in decades.

Iran warned the Hormuz Strait "will be completely closed" should Trump act on his threat to destroy its energy infrastructure.

The 48-hour ultimatum came as the waterway -- through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows -- remains effectively closed to all but Iranian oil.

Analysts have warned of a potential inflation surge as oil prices remain far above pre-war levels despite Monday's plunge.

That could prompt central banks hike interest rates, putting the brakes on the global economy.

Trump's latest announcement sent the greenback lower against the euro, pound and yen.

For the markets, Stovall warned that uncertainty remained the name of the game.

"We could just as easily fall tomorrow if the president says something else that contradicts what happened today," he said. "But I don't think that's going to happen."

Key figures at around 2015 GMT

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 10.9 percent at $99.94 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 10.3 percent at $88.13 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 1.4 percent at 46,208.47 points (close)

New York - S&P 500: UP 1.2 percent at 6,581.00 (close)

New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.4 percent at 21,946.76 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 9,894.15 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.8 percent at 7,726.20 (close)

Frankfurt - DAX: UP 1.2 percent at 22,653.86 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 3.5 percent at 51,515.49 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 3.5 percent to 24,382.47 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 3.6 percent at 3,813.28 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1616 from $1.1550 on Friday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3437 from $1.3323

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 158.34 yen from 159.30 yen

Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.45 pence from 86.68 pence

burs-aha/js

environment

Trump administration seeks to ease oil fears but industry wary

BY NINA ISENI WITH BEIYI SEOW AND ASAD HASHIM IN WASHINGTON

His comments came as energy industry leaders converge in Texas this week under the cloud of oil and gas supply disruptions from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February.

A top US official in President Donald Trump's government sought to reassure fears about the oil market Monday as war raged on in the Middle East, but industry leaders remain wary.
His comments came as energy industry leaders converge in Texas this week under the cloud of oil and gas supply disruptions from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February.

A top US official in President Donald Trump's government sought to reassure fears about the oil market Monday as war raged on in the Middle East, but industry leaders remain wary.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston that disruption to global energy flows is "temporary," as costs surged after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran's retaliation that virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz.

Wright said Washington has adopted "pragmatic solutions" such as by helping oil flow to Asian refineries. The United States also started releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Friday.

"But these are mitigants of a situation that's temporary," he stressed to a packed ballroom.

His comments came as energy industry leaders converge in Texas this week under the cloud of oil and gas supply disruptions from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February.

More than 10,000 attendees are expected for CERAWeek, the spring gathering that has taken on unexpected importance as fuel prices rocketed after the war began.

Wright said the United States would be able to release up to 1.5 million barrels of oil a day, and this could get close to three million barrels.

Attacks on critical energy facilities in Iran, Qatar and other Gulf countries have exacerbated global supply problems.

Oil prices tumbled Monday as Trump ordered a halt on strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure following "very good" talks. But Tehran denied that negotiations were underway.

Wright told CNBC on Monday that even though the world is undergoing a "short-term period of disruption" now, "the long-term benefits will be enormous."

'Economic terrorism'

Separately, the chief of UAE state energy company ADNOC slammed Tehran's actions to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy supplies.

"Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation," Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said in virtual remarks to the conference.

"It's economic terrorism against every nation. And no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage," he added.

TotalEnergies chief Patrick Pouyanne expects "very high" liquefied natural gas prices by the summer, when gas storage in Europe is being refilled, if the strait is not reopened.

US energy giant Chevron's chief executive Mike Wirth warned that oil prices have yet to fully factor in fallout from the blockade.

"In particular, Asia is facing some real concerns about supply," he said, citing government measures to conserve stocks.

Even after the war ends, it will take time to rebuild inventories, he added.

Wind power projects

Outside the conference venue, dozens of demonstrators pushed back on fossil fuel reliance.

Chloe Torres of the Texas Campaign for the Environment said her community in Corpus Christi has been hit by "hyper-industrialization" from the fossil fuel and petrochemical industry.

"We are rapidly running out of water," she said, adding that industrial demand has strained resources.

At the event, the Trump administration reached a deal with French energy giant TotalEnergies in which it would pay almost $1 billion to end its US offshore wind farm projects, the Interior Department said.

The $928 million reimbursement, which was what TotalEnergies paid for project leases, would instead be invested in US oil and gas projects.

"We're partnering with TotalEnergies to unleash nearly $1 billion" tied up in lease deposits, said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

The weeklong conference gathers experts from industry, finance, government and academia to discuss energy and other topics including trade and artificial intelligence.

Besides the war, much of the attention this year again centers on the profound reorientation of US energy and environmental policy under Trump.

This year's conference also features a plenary event with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, who is due to speak Tuesday.

bur-mav-bys/jgc

economy

Bosnian truckers blocked EU freight terminals for a day over visa rules

In late January, hundreds of truck drivers from several Balkan countries staged days-long blockades at multiple terminals to protest the EES rollout.

Bosnian truck drivers blockaded two freight terminals on the border with EU member Croatia on Monday in a one-day protest over visa rules limiting their time in the bloc.
In late January, hundreds of truck drivers from several Balkan countries staged days-long blockades at multiple terminals to protest the EES rollout.

Bosnian truck drivers blockaded two freight terminals on the border with EU member Croatia on Monday in a one-day protest over visa rules limiting their time in the bloc.

The EU has since October been rolling out its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES), which Balkan drivers consider "discriminatory" because it subjects them to the same 90-days-in-180 rule as tourists.

"Our work has been made administratively impossible," Hidajet Muratovic, one of the protest organizers, told AFP at the Orasje crossing.

The blockades were lifted late on Monday, after drivers were promised talks with Bosnian authorities on Wednesday to discuss possible solutions.

The rollout, due to take full effect on April 10, has led to stricter checks, with many drivers now being turned back at the border with Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013.

"In March alone, we had more than 200 drivers turned back at the Croatian border," trucker Atif Hadzidedic said during the blockade at the Svilaj crossing.

In late January, hundreds of truck drivers from several Balkan countries staged days-long blockades at multiple terminals to protest the EES rollout.

The blockades in Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia were lifted after talks were announced in Brussels, but those discussions have yet to produce a decision.

Serbian truck drivers have postponed new blockades until April 10, when the visa rules are due to take full effect.

Balkan economies were losing around 100 million euros ($115 million) a day in goods exports, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce said in January.

The EU is the Balkans’ main trading partner, accounting for more than 60 percent of the region’s total trade, most of it carried by road.

Trade in goods between the EU and the Balkans exceeded 83 billion euros in 2024.

In Bosnia, 93 percent of trade goes by road.

rus/cbo/oz/rl

US

What cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?

"Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be severely disrupted," shipping intelligence journal Lloyd's List said in its latest update Monday.

Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers -- most of them Iranian -- have made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces effectively blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.
"Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be severely disrupted," shipping intelligence journal Lloyd's List said in its latest update Monday.

Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers -- most of them Iranian -- have made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces effectively blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.

Here are facts and figures about vessels that have passed through the 167-kilometre (104-mile) long strait since the war broke out with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

95% shipping drop

From March 1 to 1600 GMT on March 23, commodities carriers made just 144 crossings, according to analytics firm Kpler -- a 95 percent decrease from peacetime.

Of these, 91 crossings were by oil and gas tankers and more than half were loaded, Kpler data showed, with most travelling east out of the strait.

"Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be severely disrupted," shipping intelligence journal Lloyd's List said in its latest update Monday.

On Monday, two Indian-flagged tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and a China-bound carrier were among the latest to navigate the strait, according to Kpler.

The Panama-flagged Bright Gold was due to arrive in China on April 13 with around 40,000 tonnes of methanol.

A Chinese-owned containership -- the Newvoyager -- also transited the waterway after making a payment to Iranian authorities, Lloyd's List reported.

The exact amount and method of payment could not be confirmed, it said.

New approved route?

Monday's crossings all appeared to have used a purported Tehran-approved northern route around Larak Island just off the Iranian coast.

Lloyd's List updated Monday that it has tracked more than 20 ships using the so-called corridor, with the majority Greek-owned but others Indian-, Pakistan- and Syrian-owned.

It added that the Iranian authorities are reportedly handling transit requests on a case-by-case basis while some governments, including India, were said to be negotiating with Tehran for bulk passage arrangements.

At least one vetted vessel paid a reported $2 million payment to pass safely through the strait, Lloyd's List reported last week.

Two of the vessels navigating it Monday -- the Bright Gold and the Indian tanker Pine Gas -- kept their AIS transponders on, a rare occurrence for a non-Iranian vessel in the current climate.

Iranian, Greek, Chinese ships

The biggest proportion of ships to have passed through the strait are owned or flagged in Iran, followed by Greek and Chinese carriers, Bridget Diakun, an analyst at Lloyd's List Intelligence, said last week.

"Although Iran is continuing to control the Strait and exit its own oil, everything else is largely still at a standstill," Meade previously noted.

51 sanctioned ships

Since the war started, more than 40 percent of the ships transiting the strait have been under US, EU or UK sanctions, according to an AFP analysis of passage data.

Of the oil and gas tankers, nearly 59 percent were under sanctions.

Since March 16, "anything heading westbound has been shadow fleet, gas carriers or tankers... they absolutely dominate the traffic going through," Diakun told the Lloyds briefing.

Oil, LNG to Asia

Commodities analysts at JPMorgan bank have noted that most of the oil passing through the strait was headed for Asia, principally China.

Cichen Shen, Asia Pacific editor at Lloyd's List, said there were indications online that Chinese authorities were working on "some sort of exit plan" for their big tankers stuck in the region.

Meanwhile, Europe-bound LNG cargoes have been diverted to Asia, according to MarineTraffic.

It noted that around 11 LNG tankers originally bound for Europe have been diverted to Asia since March 3, according to its analysis of market data, amid restricted supply and rising spot prices.

1.3 mn barrels of Iran oil

The JPMorgan analysts said overall 98 percent of the observable oil traffic through the strait was Iranian, averaging 1.3 million barrels a day "in early March".

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

rlp-jj/sbk

satellite

Namibia rejects Starlink licence request

Starlink had applied for the licence through its local unit, Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Limited, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) said in a government gazette.

Namibia said Monday it had rejected a request for billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink to operate its satellite internet services in the country, dealing the company a second setback in southern Africa.
Starlink had applied for the licence through its local unit, Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Limited, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) said in a government gazette.

Namibia said Monday it had rejected a request for billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink to operate its satellite internet services in the country, dealing the company a second setback in southern Africa.

Starlink had applied for the licence through its local unit, Starlink Internet Services Namibia (Pty) Limited, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) said in a government gazette.

Starlink provides high-speed internet access to remote locations around the world via thousands of low Earth orbit satellites.

The regulator gave no explanation for the refusal, saying only that "the full reasons for the decision can be requested from the authority."

AFP sought comment from CRAN but had not received a response.

However CRAN's statement noted that Starlink's local subsidiary has no local ownership.

US-based Starlink, which counters criticism on its website with a "Myth vs Fact" page, says it established the Namibian company and plans to partner with local firms to create jobs and economic opportunities.

Starlink has failed to secure a licence in neighbouring South Africa, where ownership rules have also blocked its entry.

Telecommunications companies operating in South Africa, including those with foreign investment, are currently required to provide 30 percent equity to historically disadvantaged groups -- a policy created to mitigate the legacy of racial inequality left by apartheid.

South Africa-born Musk has refused ceding ownership, calling the black empowerment policy "openly racist".

str-ho/rl

energy

US, TotalEnergies reach 'nearly $1 bn' deal to end offshore wind projects

In Houston on Monday, TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanne said offshore wind was "not the most affordable way to produce electricity" in the United States, which he identified as being natural gas-fired power plants.

The United States and TotalEnergies on Monday signed an agreement to end the French company's offshore US wind farm projects and redirect those funds towards fossil fuel production, with the US interior secretary saying the deal was worth "nearly $1 billion."
In Houston on Monday, TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanne said offshore wind was "not the most affordable way to produce electricity" in the United States, which he identified as being natural gas-fired power plants.

The United States and TotalEnergies on Monday signed an agreement to end the French company's offshore US wind farm projects and redirect those funds towards fossil fuel production, with the US interior secretary saying the deal was worth "nearly $1 billion."

US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum made the announcement at the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston, at an event where he appeared alongside TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne, after which both men signed the agreement.

"We're partnering with TotalEnergies to unleash nearly $1 billion that was tied up in a lease deposit that was directed towards the prior administration's subsidies that were pushing expensive weather-dependent offshore wind," said Burgum.

Pouyanne welcomed the deal, saying it redirected TotalEnergies's $928 million investment in two wind farm leases off the North Carolina and New York coasts into US natural gas projects, in particular the Rio Grande LNG plant.

French giant TotalEnergies had four gigawatts (GW) of offshore projects under development, including 3 GW for the New York Bight project and 1 GW in North Carolina.

But at the end of 2024, Pouyanne announced that they were "put on hold" due to the unlikelihood of obtaining federal licenses from the Trump administration.

Under former president Joe Biden, the United States had accelerated progress on wind farm construction as part of its fight against climate change.

US President Donald Trump, however, has reversed course on many of Biden's climate policies, taking particular aim at wind power.

Trump has long complained about the aesthetics of wind farms, and says they produce expensive electricity.

In December, the Trump administration put five wind power projects on hold, citing "national security" risks.

That order was then nullified by rulings at several US federal courts, allowing work to resume.

In Houston on Monday, TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanne said offshore wind was "not the most affordable way to produce electricity" in the United States, which he identified as being natural gas-fired power plants.

"We could recycle all this money we are dedicating into, I would say US energy policy, and, for us, in I would say smarter investment. So it was a win-win dialog," he said.

According to a TotalEnergies statement, the company has also signed a letter of intent with Glenfarne, the lead developer of the Alaska LNG project, for the longterm offtake of 2 million tons per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over 20 years.

aha-ni-nal/mjf

Israël

Countries act to limit fuel price rise, cut consumption

Here are some of the measures that have been adopted: - Tax cuts and aid - Some countries are targeting the price of fuel in order to limit the impact of the rise of crude oil prices on consumers and businesses.

The surge in fuel prices triggered by the war in the Middle East has prompted countries to take measures to limit the financial impact on consumers and businesses.
Here are some of the measures that have been adopted: - Tax cuts and aid - Some countries are targeting the price of fuel in order to limit the impact of the rise of crude oil prices on consumers and businesses.

The surge in fuel prices triggered by the war in the Middle East has prompted countries to take measures to limit the financial impact on consumers and businesses.

Countries have also moved to reduce consumption, especially when they have limited reserves.

Here are some of the measures that have been adopted:

Tax cuts and aid

Some countries are targeting the price of fuel in order to limit the impact of the rise of crude oil prices on consumers and businesses.

Spain has launched a five-billion-euro ($5.8-billion) plan that reduces the value added tax (VAT) on fuel which should result in a reduction of 30 euro cents per litre.

A similar measure is in place in Portugal and has been announced in Sweden.

Since US-Israeli attacks on Iran set off the war on February 28 a number of countries such as Croatia, Hungary, South Korea and Thailand have set price limits on fuel.

Vietnam has waived customs duties on fuel imports through the month of April.

Japan is using subsidies to refiners to ensure the pump price of petrol stays around 170 yen ($1.07) per litre, having hit a record 190.8 yen in the middle of the month.

Taiwan uses a mechanism that absorbs 60 percent of increases.

China on Monday limited the amount that fuel prices may rise at the pump.

Greece has earmarked 300 million euros ($347 million) in relief for households and farmers in April and May to help them cope with rising fuel prices.

Morocco has put in place a special direct subsidy for road transport firms.

Brazil has announced temporary measures to limit fuel price increases, including suspending taxes on diesel fuel.

Germany has banned service stations from raising prices more than once per day.

Stocks, rationing, restrictions

The war is also forcing countries to dip into their strategic stocks and take other measures to avoid shortages, including rationing and reducing travel.

The 32 member countries of the International Energy Agency (which includes the G7 nations) have released a record amount from their strategic reserves.

Bangladesh has imposed rationing.

Egypt has limited non-essential travel by government employees.

The Philippines has reduced ferry services and prices of local public transport have risen.

India, the world's number two importer of liquefied petroleum gas which is used to produce cooking gas, has prioritised supplies for households.

South Korea's ruling party said the country will lift a cap on coal-powered generation capacity set at 80 percent and boost the use of nuclear power to about the same level.

Reducing energy consumption

Other countries are introducing measures to reduce fuel consumption.

Thailand is encouraging government employees to work from home, while Vietnam is encouraging employers to do so.

Indonesia is looking at imposing one day of working from home for government employees, while the Philippines has gone further, introducing a four-day work week for government employees.

In Thailand, the temperature in public buildings has been raised to 26 degrees Celsius (79F) to reduce electricity consumption for air conditioning.

Vietnam is encouraging people to ride bicycles, share rides and use public transport.

Bangladesh shut universities and brought forward the Eid holidays, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to limit electricity consumption.

It also cancelled decorative light displays on government buildings on Eid and those scheduled for Independence Day celebrations on March 26 and asked shopping malls to do the same.

Countries are also looking at importing Russian crude after the United States temporarily suspended sanctions in mid-March.

ole/uh/rl/kjm

energy

Russia, Vietnam advance plans for first nuclear power plant

The agreement lays out the legal framework for the construction of two reactors with a total output of 2400 MW at Vietnam's proposed Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant, Rostam said.

Russia and Vietnam on Monday signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency said on Monday.
The agreement lays out the legal framework for the construction of two reactors with a total output of 2400 MW at Vietnam's proposed Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant, Rostam said.

Russia and Vietnam on Monday signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, Russia's Rosatom nuclear agency said on Monday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was visiting energy-rich Russia as Vietnam seeks to shore up its fuel reserves at a time of disruption to energy supplies caused by the war in the Middle East, sparking fears of fuel shortages around the world.

Since the US-Israeli war against Iran began in late February, the cost of 95-octane petrol and diesel in Vietnam, a manufacturing hub, has soared by 50 percent and 70 percent respectively.

The agreement lays out the legal framework for the construction of two reactors with a total output of 2400 MW at Vietnam's proposed Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant, Rostam said.

Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev said the agreement would be the "foundation for a long-term industrial partnership, which will strengthen Vietnam's energy independence and open up new opportunities for economic growth".

No timeline was given for when construction would start or when the plant might come online.

Moscow and Hanoi had initially agreed to build the Ninh Thuan 1 atomic power station back in 2010, but later decided to suspend construction.

Another agreement between Russia's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) producer Novatek and a Vietnamese buyer was also signed recently, Novatek's CEO Leonid Mikhelson said on Monday.

"We have been in negotiations with potential buyers for over five years, and have very recently signed a preliminary supply agreement with one of them. We are ready to commence deliveries at the earliest opportunity," he told state broadcaster Rossiya 24, without naming the customer.

Russia and Vietnam have also signed a deal on oil and gas production in both countries, the TASS state news agency reported, citing Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, without giving details.

bur/sbk

climate

German court rejects landmark climate case against BMW, Mercedes

BY SARAH MARIA BRECH WITH SAM REEVES IN FRANKFURT

DUH executive director Barbara Metz said the decision did not "absolve Mercedes-Benz and BMW of their responsibility for the climate crisis, which stems from their sale of millions of internal combustion engine vehicles in order to maximise profits".

A German top court on Monday rejected a landmark climate case brought by environmentalists that had aimed to force auto giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz to stop selling combustion-engine cars from 2030.
DUH executive director Barbara Metz said the decision did not "absolve Mercedes-Benz and BMW of their responsibility for the climate crisis, which stems from their sale of millions of internal combustion engine vehicles in order to maximise profits".

A German top court on Monday rejected a landmark climate case brought by environmentalists that had aimed to force auto giants BMW and Mercedes-Benz to stop selling combustion-engine cars from 2030.

The case at the Federal Court of Justice was brought by campaigners of the group Environmental Action Germany (DUH), and marked the latest example of activists turning to the judiciary to enforce climate action.

The plaintiffs built their case on a landmark 2021 ruling by Germany's Constitutional Court that the state has a duty to protect future generations from the effects of climate change and sought to apply the principle to companies.

But handing down its ruling, Germany's highest court for civil and criminal matters rejected DUH's arguments. It found that citizens' personal rights were "not affected... by the business activities of the defendant," in a decision that upheld rulings by lower courts.

"Private individuals cannot demand that automobile manufacturers refrain from placing passenger cars with internal combustion engines on the market" ahead of European Union deadlines, it said.

The DUH case demanded a 2030 phase-out of fossil fuel-powered cars -- five years earlier than the target year in a European Union plan that was last year watered down after intense lobbying by automakers.

DUH executive director Barbara Metz said the decision did not "absolve Mercedes-Benz and BMW of their responsibility for the climate crisis, which stems from their sale of millions of internal combustion engine vehicles in order to maximise profits".

But she said the court had made it clear that responsibility for action lies with the federal government, and called on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to step up action to protect the climate.

The DUH said it was also considering whether to file an appeal to the Constitutional Court.

Activists turning to courts

Mercedes welcomed the ruling for providing "a clarification of our democratic system".

"Setting legal requirements for climate targets is the responsibility of the legislature, not the judiciary," said the group in a statement, adding that climate protection remained a key consideration.

BMW added that the decision contributed to "legal certainty for companies operating in Germany".

"Throughout the proceedings, we have consistently maintained the position that the debate over how to achieve climate targets must take place within the political process through democratically elected parliaments," the group added in a statement.

The legal action is part of a wider trend of climate activists turning to courts.

Campaigners celebrated last May after a regional court in northern Germany ruled that companies could in principle be sued over the consequences of their emissions.

However, the court did not award damages to a Peruvian farmer, Saul Luciano Lliuya, who had brought the case against utility firm RWE.

The case against the carmakers was passed up to the Federal Court of Justice on appeal after lower courts in Stuttgart and Munich ruled in favour of the firms, finding they had complied with relevant regulations.

German carmakers have invested billions in the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles in a bid to meet EU climate targets.

But progress has been slowed by lower than anticipated demand, with many consumers put off by higher upfront costs and still patchy charging infrastructure.

burs-sr/fz/gv

US

BY AFP TEAMS IN TEHRAN, WASHINGTON, JERUSALEM, BEIRUT AND DUBAIvar date = new Date("2026-03-24T08:37:14Z") var userTimezoneOffset = Math.abs(date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000); var dd = new Date(date.getTime() - userTimezoneOffset) + " "; document.write(dd.split('(', 1)[0]);

'Tremendous achievements'

'Sudden pivots'

Global Edition

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Dollar rebounds

Key figures at around 0815 GMT

US

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Iran energy sites hit

Two killed near Beirut

Iraq deaths

Syrian base targeted

Trump-Netanyahu call

Beirut suburbs hit

Pakistani, Iranian leaders speak

'David's Sling' malfunction

Israel hits Guards' site

US

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Asian stocks recover on Trump u-turn

Vietnam to cut domestic flights

Cathay extends flight suspension

Japan to release oil reserves

Philippines leans on coal

Ukraine eyeing diesel supply

France takes steps to mitigate prices

Oil disruption 'temporary'

trade

BY KIRSTY NEEDHAMvar date = new Date("2026-03-24T05:48:54Z") var userTimezoneOffset = Math.abs(date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000); var dd = new Date(date.getTime() - userTimezoneOffset) + " "; document.write(dd.split('(', 1)[0]);

A 'fair deal'

US

BY SARA HUSSEINvar date = new Date("2026-03-24T05:18:43Z") var userTimezoneOffset = Math.abs(date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000); var dd = new Date(date.getTime() - userTimezoneOffset) + " "; document.write(dd.split('(', 1)[0]);

Higher prices

'Transition fuel'

tourism

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'Not that clean'

Viral effect

addiction

BY ROMAIN FONSEGRIVESvar date = new Date("2026-03-24T00:30:06Z") var userTimezoneOffset = Math.abs(date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000); var dd = new Date(date.getTime() - userTimezoneOffset) + " "; document.write(dd.split('(', 1)[0]);

'Negligent' designs

airports

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Shutdown talks deadlocked

economy

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LaGuardia

BY ANGELA WEISSvar date = new Date("2026-03-23T20:54:24Z") var userTimezoneOffset = Math.abs(date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000); var dd = new Date(date.getTime() - userTimezoneOffset) + " "; document.write(dd.split('(', 1)[0]);

'Everyone was screaming'

Global Edition

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Key figures at around 2015 GMT

environment

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'Economic terrorism'

Wind power projects

economy

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US

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95% shipping drop

New approved route?

Iranian, Greek, Chinese ships

51 sanctioned ships

Oil, LNG to Asia

1.3 mn barrels of Iran oil

satellite

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energy

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Israël

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Tax cuts and aid

Stocks, rationing, restrictions

Reducing energy consumption

energy

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climate

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

BY KIRSTY NEEDHAM

BY SARA HUSSEIN

BY ROMAIN FONSEGRIVES

BY JOHN FALCHETTO WITH FRANKIE TAGGART IN WASHINGTON

BY ANGELA WEISS

BY NINA ISENI WITH BEIYI SEOW AND ASAD HASHIM IN WASHINGTON

BY SARAH MARIA BRECH WITH SAM REEVES IN FRANKFURT