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US President Donald Trump told AFP yesterday that a peace deal with Iran was “very close” and had “no sticking points,” as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping. The upbeat signals from Washington came as a ceasefire took effect in Lebanon, raising hopes that two of the main obstacles to a US-Iran agreement may have been removed.”We’re very close. Looks like it’s going to be very good for everybody. And we’re very close to having a deal,” Trump said in a brief telephone call with AFP from Las Vegas, adding there were “no sticking points at all” left with Tehran.”The strait’s going to be open, they already are open. And things are going very well.”But Tehran quickly pushed back on one key point. Iran’s foreign ministry said yesterday that its stockpile of enriched uranium would not be transferred “anywhere,” rejecting an earlier claim by Trump that the Islamic republic had agreed to hand it over.Trump hailed a “GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!” in celebratory posts praising mediator Pakistan and Gulf allies, while telling Nato to “STAY AWAY” as he rejected the alliance’s offer to help secure the Hormuz strait.After the truce took hold in Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Islamic republic would lift its blockade on shipping through the key Gulf energy route. AFP Source link
A satellite image shows a cluster of ships near Dubai at sea yesterday. Reuters Shipping industry figures gave a cautious welcome yesterday to Iran’s announcement that it was reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route to commercial freight after nearly seven weeks closed. Iranian forces’ closure of the strait has trapped hundreds of ships in the Gulf and driven up the costs of shipping goods, with captains avoiding the region for fear of attacks or mines.A spokesman for German transportation giant Hapag-Lloyd, which has ships stuck in the Gulf, told AFP by phone that the reopening was “in general… good news”.But he cautioned that shippers still needed details of what route vessels could take and in what order, citing fears of sea mines. “One thousand ships cannot just go now to the entrance of the strait, that will be chaos. They (the Iranians) need to give clear orders,” said the spokesman, Nils Haupt. “We would be ready to go very soon if some of these open questions can be solved within the weekend.”Bloomberg data indicated there were about 770 vessels used for carrying commodities sending transponder signals inside the Gulf on Thursday, of which about 360 were oil and gas carriers. Before the war, average daily crossings of the strait overall numbered about 120, according to industry journal Lloyd’s List.Afer Iran’s announcement on Friday, US President Donald Trump said the Islamic republic had declared the waterway “fully open and ready for full passage”. Jakob Larsen, chief security officer of major shipping association BIMCO, said in a statement emailed to AFP that this claim was “inaccurate”.”The status of mine threats in (Iran’s maritime) traffic separation scheme is unclear, and BIMCO believes shipping companies should consider avoiding the area,” he said.The secretary general of leading industry lobby the International Chamber of Shipping, Thomas Kazakos, said the announcement was “a positive step (but) there is still much uncertainty around what it means in practice”.In a statement sent to AFP, he said it offered “a cautious measure of reassurance to” shippers and the thousands of seafarers stuck in the Gulf by the Middle East war for nearly seven weeks. “It is essential that it marks the beginning of a broader and more durable return, beyond the current ceasefire, to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors,” he said. Source link
North Korea’s economy is showing signs of recovery as Pyongyang deepens trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and China, South Korea’s unification ministry said in a report sent to AFP yesterday.Rigid socialist planning and high military spending have undermined growth in North Korea for years, as have sweeping international sanctions aimed at scuppering its development of nuclear weapons.China has long been the diplomatically isolated country’s main economic backer, though Pyongyang has also drawn closer to Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Those relationships are now driving an improved economic outlook, with the North appearing to have “moved beyond a period of contraction” and “entered a phase of gradual recovery”, according to the South Korean ministry.The turnaround has come even as Pyongyang continues its nuclear and missile programmes, which it has vowed not to abandon despite years of international pressure.The report outlined Seoul’s basic plan for developing relations with the North through the end of the decade.It said Pyongyang’s expanding cooperation with Moscow and improving trade conditions with Beijing were key factors supporting the recovery.Air China resumed direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in March after a six-year suspension, and daily passenger rail services between the two capitals have also restarted.China’s foreign minister said in a visit to Pyongyang last week that Beijing hoped to further “promote practical co-operation”.Analysts say the North is also receiving economic and military technology assistance from Russia in return for sending troops and ammunition to help it fight Ukraine.North Korea does not publish official data on the size of its economy.Its nominal gross domestic product was equivalent to about $30bn in 2024, according to Seoul’s official estimate — a tiny fraction of the South Korean economy, one of the most developed in the world.North Korea has long faced shortages. A famine in the mid-1990s killed hundreds of thousands of people, and reports indicate that the Covid-19 pandemic also pushed many into extreme hunger.In February, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to lift living standards at a landmark congress, saying the country had overcome its “worst difficulties” in the past five years and was entering a stage of “optimism and confidence in the future”. Source link
Debris at the site of a helicopter crash in Sekadau regency, West Kalimantan province. Two crew members and six passengers were killed when a private helicopter…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that more than a dozen countries have agreed in principle to contribute to a multinational mission aimed at safeguarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement issued after a summit in Paris attended by around 30 countries in person and via video link, Starmer said the proposed force-described as peaceful and defensive-would be led by the United Kingdom and France and deployed once conditions allow. He added that military planning would continue, with further details on the composition of the force expected to be unveiled at a meeting in London next week. He also emphasized that there were calls for the strait to remain open without transit fees or restrictions. Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer indicated that the initiative underscored the urgency of coordinated international action. He stressed that the mission’s role would be defensive, focusing on reassuring commercial shipping and supporting mine-clearing efforts, noting that more than 12 countries had already offered assets for participation. For his part, Macron welcomed Iran’s announcement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of a ceasefire period, while emphasizing that participating countries had collectively called for a full and unconditional reopening by all parties. He added that the proposed multinational security mission would carry greater legitimacy and enable sustained long-term engagement. Meloni expressed Italy’s readiness to take part in the mission but indicated that deployment should not proceed before a cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, Merz said that US participation in the potential international effort would be desirable. He confirmed that Germany was involved in military planning discussions and would welcome US involvement if agreed. Merz also explained that Germany’s potential contribution could include Bundeswehr involvement after hostilities end, provided there is a solid legal basis, such as a United Nations Security Council resolution. He noted that Germany’s role might extend to mine-clearing operations and maritime reconnaissance. The announcement comes amid a series of significant developments related to escalating tensions in the Middle East. In recent hours, Washington reported reaching a 10-day ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, while Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The move was welcomed by US President Donald Trump, with the reopening helping to reassure global oil markets and contributing to a notable decline in prices Source link
Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra Thursday. (AFP) Australia will raise defence spending to 3.0% of GDP by 2033 as armed conflicts flare worldwide, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Thursday.The new commitment follows pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration for Canberra to boost military expenditure as a share of total annual economic output.”International norms that once constrained the use of force and military coercion continue to erode,” Marles said in a speech in Canberra, outlining a boost to spending on missile defence, drones and guided weapon stockpiles.”More countries are engaged in conflict today than at any time since the end of World War II, and this is occurring across every region of the world.”Australia’s defence spending had previously been forecast to rise to 2.3% of GDP by 2033.But the country will spend an additional AU$53bn ($38bn) over the next decade when compared to its 2024 defence strategy, Marles said.In the shorter term, spending would climb by an extra AU$14bn over four years.To reach the 3.0% figure, Australia changed how it calculates the defence budget to match a Nato definition that includes factors such as military pensions and defence intelligence.Marles said Thursday this allowed better comparisons with other countries and put Australia ahead of comparable European and Asian nations with a defence spend this year of 2.8%.But the new spending still falls short of the 3.5% of GDP that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded Australia shell out last year.Wary of China’s navy build-up, US ally Australia has reshaped its defence force in recent years to focus on its missile strike capability and deterring an adversary from its northern approaches.It has also embarked on its largest-ever military spending project to build nuclear-powered submarines next decade under the AUKUS agreement with the US and the UK.Marles emphasised Australia would focus in 2026 on building greater military self-reliance but was not jettisoning its US security alliance, which he said remained “fundamental”.”There is no effective balance of power in the Indo-Pacific absent the continued presence of the US,” he said.Spending to build a missile defence system will accelerate — up to AU$30bn over the next decade.Another AU$36bn will be spent to build guided missiles locally.Australia’s vast coastline and small population have also spurred a focus on developing large autonomous submarines and fighter jets, dubbed the Ghost Shark and Ghost Bat.This week, Canberra said it would boost spending on drones by up to AU$5bn in response to shifts in warfare tactics in the Middle East and Ukraine.Under the AUKUS agreement, the US will sell Australia two nuclear-powered submarines from 2032.Australia and Britain will then build a new class of submarine in the 2040s.Critics have alleged the deal does not guarantee that Australia will ever receive the submarines. Source link
Columns of fire engulfed a crucial Australian oil refinery after a chain of explosions, authorities said Thursday, as they warned of disruptions to domestic fuel supply.Flames as high as 60m (200 feet) erupted late Wednesday after a gas leak ignited at the Viva fuel plant in Victoria state, firefighters said, one of only two working oil refineries in Australia.The refinery, about an hour's drive southwest of state capital Melbourne, pumps out about 10 percent of Australia's fuel, according to energy company Viva.Fire Rescue Victoria said Thursday the blaze had been contained, although it could smoulder throughout the day.’The whole sky was lit up with the bright flame,’ Geelong resident Wayne Gardiner told AFP.The refinery is capable of processing up to 120,000 barrels of oil each day, company figures stated.Analysts said that, together with the Ampol refinery in Brisbane, it produces about 10-20 percent of Australia's total fuel supply.’This is not a positive development,’ Energy Minister Chris Bowen said as the nation's fuel supplies are under pressure due to war in the Middle East.Bowen said he had spoken to Viva and the firm was ‘very confident they can replace the petrol with imports’.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, currently visiting Malaysia, said Australia had secured an additional supply of some 100 million litres of diesel from Brunei and South Korea.’This is the first of many expected shipments secured, under the government's new strategic reserve powers,’ he told a news conference.The fire ripped through a section of the refinery responsible for the production of high-octane petrol, Bowen earlier said.By triggering isolation valves, other parts of the plant producing jet fuel and diesel had been spared the worst of the blaze.Geographically isolated and with only two oil refineries, Australia is heavily exposed to disruptions in global fuel supply and imports most of its petrol.Canberra urged Australians to ignore the impulse to rush out and panic buy more fuel.’It's important that people buy as much fuel as they need. But no more, no less,’ Bowen said.Incident controller Mark McGuinness said a ‘significant leak’ of highly flammable gases and liquid hydrocarbons had triggered the inferno.’It was quite ferocious. It went from a small fire through several explosions to a large, intense fire,’ he told reporters.Images taken Thursday morning showed thick clouds of smoke billowing over the industrial complex.Viva Energy boss Scott Wyatt said it was a ‘very challenging incident’.’Production is not our primary priority today,’ he told reporters. ‘Today it is getting the site safe.’Australia holds roughly 38 days' worth of petrol in reserve, according to government figures, far below the 90-day minimum dictated by the International Energy Agency.While the government has so far resisted moves to ration fuel, it has urged drivers to conserve petrol where they can and to favour public transport if possible.Like most nations in Asia and the South Pacific, Australia is heavily reliant on oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which at one point carried one-fifth of the world's oil and gas.Shipping traffic through the vital waterway has essentially ceased since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Source link
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the naval blockade on Iran will “remain in full force” until a deal with Tehran is struck. “The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” he wrote on Truth Social in all caps. Source link
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called on the Israeli occupation to immediately and completely lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, open the crossings, and guarantee full, safe, and sustainable humanitarian access to all parts of the Strip.In a statement, the Monitor warned of the dangerous escalation in the establishment by Israeli occupation forces of permanent and fortified military positions inside the Gaza Strip, near what is known as the “Yellow Line,” which isolates approximately 55 percent of the Strip’s area and subjects it to direct Israeli control. The Monitor considers this part of a systematic policy aimed at imposing a permanent reality that paves the way for the de facto annexation of large parts of the occupied Palestinian territory, eliminates what remains of its geographical contiguity, and deepens the illegal Israeli presence there.The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called on the international community to take immediate and effective action to stop the ongoing Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip and to reject any measures or arrangements on the ground that would entrench a forced demographic or geographic change in the Strip, reduce its area, or separate its parts from one another. The Monitor stressed that the continuation of these measures consolidates illegal realities imposed by force and threatens to transform them into a permanent status quo.The Monitor demanded that Israel be compelled to withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip and end its illegal presence in all of the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in accordance with the International Court of Justice’s ruling that this presence must end as soon as possible, and in compliance with the UN General Assembly resolution that called on Israel to end it without delay.It stressed that the duty of states does not stop at political condemnation, but requires taking practical measures to stop the violation and prevent contributing to its continuation, including imposing targeted sanctions, stopping any military, security, logistical or intelligence cooperation that may contribute directly or indirectly to maintaining the illegal situation, refraining from providing any aid, assistance or recognition that would legitimize the de facto annexation or illegal occupation, and working collectively through the United Nations to ensure accountability and end this illegal situation. Source link
Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed developments in the Middle East in a telephone call today with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.During the call, Guterres affirmed the United Nations’ full support for Pakistan’s ongoing efforts in this regard.For his part, the Pakistani Foreign Minister affirmed his country’s commitment to promoting dialogue and diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in the region. Source link