Germany growth forecasts slashed as Mideast war hits economy

The Swiss government is considering dropping the agreed purchase of the Patriot air-defence system from the United States amid severe delivery delays, Defence Minister Martin Pfister said Wednesday.

"Cancellation is alway an option in the event of a delay," he told the ATS-Keystone news agency.

Earlier Wednesday, the defence ministry announced it would continue suspending payments for the system "until the United States has firmly announced new delivery dates and payment deadlines".

Switzerland, which is not in NATO, had ordered five Patriot systems in 2022, with delivery scheduled to begin this year and to be completed in 2028.

But last July, the government said it had been informed by the US defense department that the deliveries to Switzerland would be delayed as Washington strived to provide more support for Ukraine.

Switzerland first suspended its payments for the system last autumn.

"We are still operating on the assumption that we will receive the delivery, but we don't know when," Pfister said, adding that the government was mulling various options.

"A possible cancellation is one of them, but we don't know the conditions," he said.

- Unauthorised payment -

Last week, the Swiss government said the United States had circumvented the freeze on its payments for the Patriot system by dipping into Swiss payments into the same fund but intended for its purchase of a fleet of F-35A fighter jets.

This manoeuvre was authorised, head of the Swiss armaments department, Urs Loher told Swiss media.

However, "if the fund's liquidity falls below a critical threshold, projects may be suspended or even abandoned in the event of a further decline", the Swiss defence ministry said in Wednesday's statement.

"This could affect not only the acquisition of the Patriot system but also the entire Swiss portfolio within the framework of the (Foreign Military Sales) programme with the United States," it warned.

The ministry noted that Washington had said it would inform Switzerland in the coming weeks about the next steps in the operation, delivery schedules and the costs and consequences of a potential interruption.

According to its statement, a recommendation on this matter will be submitted to the government "by the end of June, 2026".

In early March, Bern announced its intention to examine the acquisition of an additional long-range surface-to-air missile system, preferably manufactured in Europe, to complement the Patriot system.

Last month, the government also said that it now wanted to buy only 30 F-35A fighter jets, instead of the 36 ordered, after Washington last year hiked the price tag, citing high inflation and surging raw material and energy prices.

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Experts said Wednesday they were halting rescue efforts for a humpback whale struggling in shallow waters off the German coast and had given up hope for its survival.

The 13.5-metre (44-foot) animal has been floundering off Germany's Baltic Sea coast for more than a week, having first been spotted stuck on a sandbank on March 23 near the city of Luebeck.

The creature managed to free itself but then became stuck again several more times near the city of Wismar. Coverage of its struggle for survival has gripped much of the German public.

Experts had hoped the whale's odyssey would end with it finding its way back to its natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean.

But on Wednesday scientist Burkard Baschek, who had taken part in the rescue efforts, told reporters: "We are convinced that the animal is going to die" near Wismar.

The whale's ordeal had severely weakened it, its breathing had become "very, very irregular" and it was exhibiting "virtually no" reaction to the presence of human beings, he added.

The chances of it freeing itself again were "very low" and any further rescue efforts would therefore "be pure animal cruelty".

Since it was spotted last week the whale had prompted a large-scale rescue operation involving firefighters, scientists and the maritime police.

"Now we have the task of giving him some peace," said Till Backhaus, the environment minister for the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The animal will now "have to depart this life," he said.

An exclusion zone of 500 metres will be put in place around the whale in order to avoid disturbing it.

The authorities have ruled out putting the whale to sleep, saying this would be too dangerous both for the whale itself and those taking part in the operation.

In the case of its death, Backhaus said it would be transferred ashore for investigations to determine the cause of death.

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US President Donald Trump will address the nation on the Iran war on Wednesday, his first prime-time speech since the conflict began, as plunging approval ratings and rising economic anxiety deepen political pressure at home.

The White House has given no details on the address, but it comes hours after Trump claimed Iran had sought a pause in hostilities -- even as he set conditions that underscored the uncertainty surrounding the war's trajectory.

Iran's president "has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"

There was no independent confirmation of Trump's claim.

Trump is set to speak at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Thursday), more than a month after the United States and Israel launched their assault on Iran -- a delay that contrasts with the early addresses presidents typically deliver at the outset of major conflicts.

His remarks come at a precarious political moment.

Recent polling shows Trump's approval rating slipping below 40 percent, with disapproval climbing above the mid-50s as voters sour on both the war and its economic fallout. 

Support for the Iran campaign itself is deeply underwater, with majorities opposing the offensive and independents turning sharply against it.

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

At the same time, the president's messaging has veered between escalation and withdrawal.

In recent days, Trump has suggested the war could end within "two or three weeks," insisting the United States has largely achieved its objectives. 

Yet he has also threatened expanded strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure and floated the possibility of ground operations, while aides privately acknowledge uncertainty about the administration's long-term strategy.

- NATO rift -

Trump has also rattled allies, saying he is "beyond reconsideration" on US membership in NATO after European countries declined to back the Iran campaign -- a stance that risks widening a transatlantic rift at a moment of crisis.

Markets, however, have seized on his more optimistic signals.

Global equities rallied and oil prices fell Wednesday on hopes of a near-term end to the conflict. Brent crude was down around one percent at $102.85 a barrel, while stock markets from Asia to Europe posted strong gains.

"The market appears increasingly optimistic that an end to the war in Iran is in the offing," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

Still, analysts warned the underlying risks remain acute, with oil prices elevated and the Strait of Hormuz -- a conduit for roughly a fifth of global supply -- still effectively shut.

Beyond the markets, the strategic picture is increasingly difficult to reconcile with the administration's rhetoric, say its critics.

US and Israeli forces have struck thousands of targets and inflicted heavy damage on Iran's military infrastructure. 

But the conflict has dragged on, the leadership in Tehran remains in place, and the economic shock has spread globally -- raising questions about whether Trump can deliver a clear endgame.

That uncertainty has filtered into Washington, where even some of Trump's allies acknowledge the war has become a growing political liability ahead of November's midterm elections.

Trump's address -- which the White House has framed as an "important update" -- is expected to offer his clearest attempt yet to frame the conflict, and potentially an exit, for an increasingly skeptical public.

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IndiGo said Wednesday it was appointing Willie Walsh as its new chief executive as India's leading airline sought to recover from an embarrassing spate of cancellations that threw the country's airports into turmoil

Walsh currently leads the civil aviation industry's leading trade association, the IATA. But he also has two decades of experience leading airlines, including a decade at International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.

Walsh's "experience in managing large scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics make him ideally suited to strengthen and lead IndiGo for continued growth in an ever-evolving and competitive international aviation environment," IndiGo's board chairman Vikram Singh Mehta said in a statement.

IndiGo's previous chief executive, Pieter Elbers, stepped down on March 10, months after mass flight cancellations by the carrier threw airports across India into disarray.

In January, India's civil aviation regulator imposed a fine of $2.45 million on IndiGo for poor roster planning that led to large-scale cancellations in December. 

The operational meltdown came even though IndiGo had two years to prepare for the new rules aimed at giving pilots more rest periods in between flights to enhance passenger safety.

IndiGo operates more than 2,200 daily flights with a fleet of over 400 aircraft, connecting more than 95 domestic and 40 international destinations.

The airline carried about 124 million passengers in 2025, making it India's biggest carrier by market share.

Walsh is expected to take over the reins at IndiGo on August 3, days after his mandate at the head of the International Air Transport Association ends on July 31. 

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The family of a man who died during a 2020 police arrest in Paris will seek to hold the French state liable for his death, their lawyers said on Wednesday.

The case of Cedric Chouviat, who died in January 2020 after policemen tackled him to the ground, has drawn comparisons to the death several months later in the United States of George Floyd.

Three police officers are to be tried for the involuntary homicide of the 42-year-old, who said "I'm suffocating" before being taken to a hospital where he died two days later.

His family now intends to bring a further claim of liability against the French state, their lawyers said.

The move hinges on a decision by French rights ombudswoman Claire Hedon, who said police used "disproportionate force" during the arrest in Paris on January 3, 2020.

The officers held the delivery driver in a prone restraint for an extended period while he was wearing a full-face helmet and handcuffed behind his back -- a combination of manoeuvres leading to his death, said Hedon's ruling.

Lawyers for the family said their claim would aim to highlight the lack of internal sanctions or disciplinary proceedings against the officers, who "have continued to serve and lead normal lives".

They are also due to file a motion over the trial's delay.

No hearing date for the three officers has been scheduled more than six years after Chouviat's death.

A fourth, female police officer present at the scene will not face trial.

The family's lawyers have further argued that the charge of involuntary homicide "does not correspond to the facts of the case".

"You cannot call repeated deliberate actions on the body of a man who is already immobilised 'involuntary homicide'," said Christian Chouviat, the victim's father, on Wednesday.

Activists have repeatedly accused French police of violence and racism.

Few police brutality cases make it to criminal court in France, as most are dealt with internally.

A French court in early 2024 gave suspended sentences to three officers over an assault that inflicted severe rectal injuries to a black man during a stop and search in 2017.

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"Paper tiger". "Cowards". As US President Donald Trump grapples with the fallout of his war on Iran, much of his anger has been redirected onto another target: the NATO military alliance. 

Enraged by European allies who have refused to back his fight, rejected demands to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or denied access to US jets, Trump's tone has grown increasingly menacing.

"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger," Trump told British newspaper The Telegraph Wednesday, suggesting he was strongly considering pulling the United States out.

The ire from the president -- who has also blasted NATO allies as "cowards" over Iran -- is just the latest existential crisis to grip the 77-year-old alliance since his return to power last January. 

A few months ago he rocked NATO's foundations by threatening to seize the vast Arctic island of Greenland from fellow member Denmark -- before abruptly backing off. 

That followed him repeatedly pulling the rug from under Ukraine in its war against Russia, threats not to protect allies if they don't spend more on defence, and warnings Washington could yank troops from Europe. 

But while previous storms have blown over, there is increasing anxiety among some US allies that this time the damage might be harder to recover from. 

"Day by day it is getting more serious," one European diplomat at NATO told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

Trump has long railed against NATO, calling it "obsolete" in 2017 and mulling withdrawing during his first term in office.

Fuelling the worry is that this time round it is not only Trump that is sounding off about the alliance from Washington, but other traditional supporters.  

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tuesday the United States "is going to have to reexamine" its relationship with NATO after several European countries restricted the US military from using bases on their soil. 

"When we need them to allow us to use their military bases, their answer is 'No?' Then why are we in NATO? You have to ask that question," he told Fox News. 

Former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder argued that while NATO members have handled many disagreements in the past, this standoff threatened the vital glue of trust holding the alliance together. 

"The last two weeks have brought relations between the president and European allies to a boiling point," Daalder, who served under President Barack Obama, wrote in an online post.

"This is by far the worst crisis NATO has ever confronted."

- Stronger than ever? -

After bending over backwards repeatedly to keep Trump happy -- including a pledge to ramp up spending at NATO's summit last year -- European allies seem unwilling to play ball this time on Iran. 

As Trump didn't consult them before launching the war there is little appetite to help clear up the problems it has unleashed and risk becoming further embroiled. 

But while doomsayers see an unbridgeable rift opening up -- others insist that NATO will pull through yet again. 

"It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday. 

Alliance chief Mark Rutte -- dubbed a "Trump whisperer" -- is central as he has managed to keep the president onside, thanks in large part to his unbridled flattery of the US leader. 

He has praised Trump for tackling the threat from Iran and continues to insist he has made NATO stronger by cajoling Europeans to up defence spending. 

"NATO is stronger today than it has ever been," he said last week.

- 'Roller-coaster' -

A major test looks set to come when Trump comes face-to-face with NATO's 31 other leaders at a summit in Ankara in July -- with some hoping the bad blood might have cleared by then. 

"The only good news on Ankara is that there is still some time -- three or four months in Trump terms is a lot," the NATO diplomat said.

Even if this row passes, the alliance needs to brace for further tumult as long as Trump is in charge.

"I wouldn't say it's in perma-crisis, but rather on a kind of roller-coaster for the next three years or so," John Deni, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, told AFP.

Meanwhile among European allies there is a growing sense that Trump has once again reinforced the fundamental fact that they need to take their defence more into their own hands. 

"What we want to do is to strengthen Europe's defence within the Atlantic alliance," French armed forces minister Alice Rufo said. 

"That creates reliability and trust."

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(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump announced today that Iran's new leader has requested a ceasefire, marking a possible turning point in the ongoing conflict that has gripped the region for weeks.

As the U.S.-Iran conflict stretches into its second month following the February 28 attacks, President Trump claims Iran’s new leadership has now requested a ceasefire. This development signals a potential shift in the ongoing hostilities, which have rattled global energy markets and strained American consumers.

The U.S., however, remains firm: any move toward peace hinges on Iran reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a flashpoint whose closure has driven oil and gas prices sharply higher.

Trump stated he would only consider Iran's ceasefire proposal if the country reopens the critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil exports.

"Iran's New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote in a social media post Wednesday morning. "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"

On Tuesday, Trump estimated that the U.S. military campaign against Iran could continue for weeks.

"We're finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job," the president said.

Earlier in the week, Trump struck a different tone, urging U.S. allies to become more involved in the conflict with Iran.

Trump noted that the U.S. does not rely on the Strait of Hormuz for its own oil supply. However, Iran's closure of the waterway occurred after U.S. and Israeli attacks Feb. 28 and has driven up global gas and diesel prices. These price spikes have been felt in the U.S., causing widespread frustration among American consumers.

Since the start of the conflict at the end of February, U.S. gas prices have climbed about $1 per gallon, with the national average recently hitting $4 per gallon.

The ongoing conflict with Iran has rattled global markets, sending oil prices to their highest levels in years. If hostilities continue, experts warn that economic strain will deepen, further burdening U.S. taxpayers.

With U.S. military operations costing more than $1 billion per day, analysts say a prolonged war could drive a significant increase in defense spending and further impact the federal budget. The Department of War has suggested it could request an additional $200 billion from Congress for the Iran operations.

The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 after nuclear talks with the Islamic Republic failed to produce a deal. Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have laid out four military objectives: Destroying Iran's missile capabilities, neutralizing its navy, preventing the development of nuclear weapons, and ensuring the regime can't direct terrorism beyond its borders. Trump and Hegseth have said most of those objectives have been accomplished.

The China-born former boss of a financial services firm, accused by the United States of laundering illicit funds for North Korean and Southeast Asia-based cybercriminals, was extradited from Cambodia on Wednesday, Beijing said.

China's state broadcaster CCTV showed Huione Group's former chairman Li Xiong, 41, shaven-headed and in handcuffs being escorted by Chinese police off a China Southern plane.

Phnom Penh-based Huione Group served as a "critical node for laundering proceeds of cyber heists" carried out by the North Korean government and for transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia perpetrating crypto investment scams, the US Treasury said last year.

The Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said the conglomerate, which owned several companies offering e-commerce, payment and cryptocurrency exchange services, had received at least $4 billion worth of illegal proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025. That included proceeds from scams, stolen funds and illicit cyber actors.

State news agency Xinhua said Li was central to a "major cross-border gambling and fraud syndicate", citing China's Ministry of Public Security.

"Investigations found that Li Xiong, the former chairman of Huione Group under the Prince Group, is suspected of multiple crimes," the ministry said in a statement. 

Phnom Penh extradited Prince Group's China-born founder Chen Zhi in January after his Cambodian conglomerate was sanctioned by the US and UK governments months earlier over its alleged involvement in cyberscams.  

Beijing called Huione's Li "a core member of Chen Zhi's criminal gang" on Wednesday.

Li was arrested in Cambodia and deported at the request of Chinese authorities following a months-long joint investigation, Cambodia's interior ministry said in a statement.

Cambodia has emerged as a hotspot for cyberscam operations in recent years. Transnational crime groups initially mostly targeted Chinese speakers before widening their reach and stealing tens of billions of dollars annually from victims around the world.

Organised criminal gangs have used casinos, hotels and fortified compounds across Southeast Asia as bases to carry out sophisticated online scams, defrauding people through cryptocurrency investment schemes and fake romantic relationships, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

- 'One stop shop' -

FinCEN designated Huione Group a "primary money-laundering concern" in May, later prohibiting US financial institutions from maintaining accounts for it or processing transactions involving the firm. 

Criminal actors affiliated with the North Korean government have "extensively used the Huione Group to launder" stolen cryptocurrency for the benefit of Pyongyang's ballistic missile programmes, in violation of US and international sanctions, FinCEN said.

Huione's crypto services and online marketplace made the group a "one stop shop" for criminals to launder cryptocurrency gained through illegal activities and convert it to money, it said.

AFP's phone calls to several numbers listed for Huione companies on Cambodia's official business registry went unanswered on Wednesday.

Chen and Li had both been granted Cambodian citizenship, which was later revoked.

Chen had served as an adviser to both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen.

Hun Manet told AFP in February that the government "did not know that he was the kingpin" and pushed back against allegations of government complicity.

Cambodian authorities have vowed to close all online scam centres by the end of April, with Hun Manet saying they were giving the nation a bad name.

The law enforcement push, which analysts have criticised as window-dressing, has seen thousands of people flee suspected scam sites in recent months.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that "combating online gambling and telecoms fraud is the shared responsibility of the global community". 

Washington alleged last year that Prince Group, one of Cambodia's biggest conglomerates, has served as a front for "one of Asia's largest transnational criminal organizations".

Prince Group has denied the allegations.

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